Demps who?

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Published: March 28, 2011

This will be my first journal entry in quite a while, and my way of saying hello Hornets247 again(after my 2 week hiatus). It’s almost the playoffs, but with David West out, we can be 99% certain of the Hornets being eliminated in the playoffs (at least with DWest, we had a puncher’s chance of winning and i really mean 1% chance). 

First order of business, SET THE PLAYING FIELD.

what does this mean? we all don’t know what the CBA will look like, how the draft will look like or whether there will be a lock out. Just as with any mathematical problem we need to make certain assumptions in order to arrive at a solution. We will therefore assume that the CBA will have some sort of a hardcap which i’ll peg at 65 million. I will also assume that the draft will look the same(instead of the usual assumption that there will be less freshmen and sophomores and more juniors and seniors). Lastly, I will assume that there is a lockout that will last until November, cutting around 20 games from the season. Also, I will assume we get David Chouest as an owner. Deep pockets. 

With that in mind, the first thing that’s in Demps mind is the future of DWest. Does Dwest decide to opt out or not? if he decided to opt out, do we resign him? My idea? We resign him for a number somewhere around 23 million/3 years for a annual salary of approx 7.5 mil with the last year being a team option. Why structure the contract like so? Because not only do we get flexibility, but we also get our starting PF back. I firmly believe that DWest will come back healthy and productive because his game is NOT built on speed, lateral quickness or jumping ability(3 things ACL tears mostly take away), but more on savvy, guile and deception. His the 17 foot assassin for a reason. 

Next up, we resign Carl Landry for 16 million, 4 years. Carl Landry’s knack for scoring off the bench is crucial for our bench. We also resign Belly to around 3 million per year for 4 years. 

All in all, we gave contracts to 3 rotation players. and our total salary will be around 55 million leaving us with 10 million to spend. Players on our team… 

Paul/Bellinelli/Ariza/West/Okafor — Landry/Jack/Pondexter/Gray

next thing? I’d use our trade exemptions to get draft picks. also, i’d find a taker for Okafor and Ariza. Why?

Well, Ariza’s inability to hit anything(3s, midrange, FT) is a liability on offense, one which causes our offense to succumb to a league worse. Although his perimeter D has been stellar, IMO its easier to make someone a perimeter defender than it is to get a ok shooter. (put them in the right system ala Boston). 

Also, trading Okafor is a must. Why? NOLA is in the western conference, and in order to win in the West, you need to go through the towering Lakers. And although Okafor has proven to be a great anchor for a defense, he is still 3 inches shorter than Bynum or Gasol. Where will i trade them? to GS(hopefully) its Ariza, Okafor and maybe Pondexter for Dorell Wright and Biedrins. Biedrins seems to be digressing in GS but he’s young and has the potential to be a defensive anchor different from Okafor. Wright’s ability to knock down 3s and contribute in different categories will be vital in ressurecting an offense that’s down in the dumpster.

Lastly, i assume improvement from Belli(more consistency), from Landry(more comfortable) and Monty(better rotations, more offensive creativity).

 

Paul/Jack

Belly/???

Wright/

West/Landry

Biedrins/Gray/Trey Thompkins 

 

we just need to fill out those spaces. sign a shooting guard that can play some 3/a combo guard, and another Mbenga(my idea: Vujacic and Shelden Williams). final team.

Paul/Jack

Belly/Vujacic

Wright/???
West/Landry

Biedrins/Gray/Trey Thompkins…

 

thank you 🙂 and good day.  

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