The New Orleans Hornets are authorized to offer Eric Gordon a 4-year contract extension which would keep him a Hornet through 2016, according to Marc Spears from Yahoo. If Gordon accepts the deal, as he presumably will, it will come as a huge sign of relief to Hornets fans who had been sitting on pins and needles waiting to hear about the centerpiece of the trade that sent Chris Paul packing.
“@SpearsNBAYahoo Hornets Hugh Weber & Dell Demps have been authorized by NBA to make 4-year contract extension offer to G Eric Gordon”
While Hornets fans should be skeptical of any big news truly being official, it appears that Eric Gordon will remain a Hornet for the foreseeable future. Commissioner David Stern has authorized GM Dell Demps and President Hugh Weber to offer Gordon a four year extension which would keep him in Creole Blue through 2016 (or whenever a re-brand happens). I’m expecting that Gordon will take the deal, because otherwise they sure wasted a lot of time getting approval for nothing.
The authorization to extend a new deal comes only a day after Hornets fans got some more good news about Gordon. His knee was reported yesterday to be structurally sound (also by Spears). Gordon first injured his knee when he bumped it with Grant Hill, and has played only two games in Hornets uniform so far this season.
With Gordon in place, the Hornets have the foundation of a roster that many expect could be one of the top up and coming teams within a few years. Their record thus far is a measly 3-14, and with Eric Gordon expected to miss another two-three weeks (I’d bet on the latter if they get him locked down) things probably won’t get too much better.
With their own presumably high lottery pick, the unprotected Minnesota first round pick they possess, a few veteran trade pieces, the lack of any disgusting long term contracts, and a roster full of young talent to develop, the Hornets are in a situation many teams can only dream about.
Not only that, but as we all know the team has had remarkable success selling season tickets and promoting their brand throughout the New Orleans community. With that naming rights deal expected to actually happen at some point (news of the Arena being called Louisiana Seafood Arena Seasoned By Zattarain’s was somehow news again today), sponsorship sales going well, and the process of selling the team finally underway, things are looking pretty damn good for a team that much of the national media had written off as goners more than once.
Come this Lundi Gras, we may be celebrating more than usual.
45 responses to “New Orleans Hornets are Authorized to Offer Eric Gordon a 4-year Extension”
Here we go!! It begins!! #2014NBAChamps
Wientjes? Where you from?
Only kidding, but this is a good sign. Geaux Hornets!
That last paragraph basically summed up how excited I am about this team’s future. We’ve NEVER had this much to look forward to… I’ll even say this tops the summer of ’08.
So many good things in place, with so many more to come… GEAUX HORNETS
great news! gordon, 2 1st round picks, henry, aminu, okafor, jack, ariza, landry, and ayon is a nice group for next year..i’d like to see them keep some of the vets like landry, jack, ariza and mek to mesh with the young pups!
I think Smith qualifies as a good young piece, too. He hustles like Ryan Bowen, but has better size, athleticism, and skills.
I agree Kaman is gone next year, and not a loss.
oops forgot about smith thank you, he has really come on and yes wouldnt mind him back either!
excited for the future. great article. love the video
Not only great news with Gordon and the other factors Joe and the above posters point out, but let’s not forget an apparently well above average front office, which if added with good ownership will be a rare commodity in the NBA.
I’ve never been a big fan of renaming the franchise, but now for the first time I could actually envision at least an argument to do so, especially if the arena itself is indeed renamed something to capture NOLA’s unique life and culture. The Hornets would probably gain more PR momentum at the very start that way, similar to the I’m IN campaign
Great news! I’ll be checking throughout the day to hear the official word, but if this is true, then I’m as optimistic about the Hornets future as Joe. Next big move would be announcing the new owner.
I think we’ll get another piece of news in between, so even better.
what do u mean by re-branding? will they drop the Bee-thing one day?
I hope not!!!!! Maybe the tradition isn’t there, but it’s still cool and pretty characteristic and I couldn’t stand losing that!!!
Just a reference to the notion that a new owner may want to re-brand since there aren’t Hornets in New Orleans.
Tigers not at the zoo?
Saints not on a candle?
Tigers and Hornets are military references, Saints a musical reference. Many teams have cultural significance to the names not obvious to the masses. Ravens, Poe. Browns, a guy. Packers, packers. Astros, Astrodome, space program. And more.
If there’s a change it’s because the fat cat wants, the end. Regardless, the obsessive prattling will end whether it happens or becomes clear it will never happen. That will be nice for several reasons, not the least of which is seeing if the mavens can actually formulate opinions that haven’t been handed to them long ago.
And be careful what you wish…
Jason, while the Hornets are a military reference, the fact that the log is an actual Bug doesn’t help. Perhaps it could be compromised. The Hornets keep the name but get a new logo? (Not one of the F-18 though. If the Wizards couldn’t be the Bullets for political purposes, there’s no way the Hornets can have a fighter jet as their logo.)
I will say this about the Ravens, they would have been the Baltimore Browns if Cleveland hadn’t kept the rights to the name “Browns”.
In short, keep the name, probably make their alternate Fleur-de-Lys Logo as their main logo.
LSU not only has an actual tiger logo . . . and they not only have a live tiger mascot and habitat . . . they’re on number VI!
The military thing is that Tigers and Hornets were both names nicknames of a regiment / batallion / unit / whatever of troops, the one in LA, the other in NC.
Here is the history and some more such talk in a post done last summer whose intent was to generate talk . . . feel free to talk it up!
http://www.hornets247.com/blog/2011/06/18/dunk-that-sht-whats-in-a-name/
As far as that secondary logo thing goes . . . There are processes associated with changing such things as primary logos. I would guess that the move you decribe may gain traction once the ownership situation is stabilized . . . after all, if it takes years and millions in costs plus NBA expenses to do that kind of rebrand, why do that if you are going to sell soon and that owner may change it again . . . just save the money and save people the trouble and save the populace the confusion. Some praying for a rebrand don’t seem to understand the process or the fact that he catalyst for rebranding being in the future is exactly what has been holding up any rebranding anyone wanted to do anyway.
Plus, with the I’m In thing everyone loves . . . how much more valuable is the current brand?
It’s complicated, this rebranding concept, and the answer isn’t found in regionalism or entomology or biodiversity.
we’ll see Gordon in 3 weeks maybe
yeah, but you can not be mad at the hornets playing this one safe. By keeping our future franchise player on the sideline and letting him heal to 100% is beyond smart especially considering the money that the hornets will have to lay down to keep him here for the long haul. I am just as mad at losing as the next person, but if we can build this team like the spurs have been for the years than I see good things for this small market team
Yeah J, but it’s not the doomsday scenario you’ve been lieing about saying it was a reality on the site.
Down in New Orleans where the Bees just storm
It takes the cool Hugo to rock the Hive
On LaSalle and Girod Street
The Hornets are there with a Mambo Beat
The Mardi Gras Mambo Mambo Mambo
Party Gras Mambo Mambo Mambo
Mardi Gras Mambo Mambo Mambeaux!
Down in New Orleans!
Flash Gordon signs a long term deal
There’s a draft pick mambo with a beat
Join Demps’ Deals with Monty’s D
And On your feet where the Hornets win!
The Mardi Gras Mambo Mambo Mambo
Party Gras Mambo Mambo Mambo
Mardi Gras Mambo Mambo Mambeaux!
Down in New Orleans!
My fav mardi gras tune just got better.
Care for a pair of tickets?
If so, I’ll write.
Of course!
I wouldn’t offer him more than 48 million. We have the luxury to wait this thing out and still be able to offer the best deal.
If he’s signed by 6pm ET which is when players have to sign extension if you wanted to know.The new ownership have to get Gordon involved in buliding this franchise around him i believe Gordon is more committed to the Hornets now than CP3 IMO.Thus we’ll turn around faster than the Cavs thats forsure.Ive a wish list for the new ownership.
2012 Draft PF Anthony Davis and SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
2012 Free agents D.J Augustin,Ryan Anderson,Landry Fields,Brook Lopez and Ian Mahinmi
Trade Okafor
C Lopez-Mahinmi-Smith
PF Anderson-Davis-Ayon
SF Ariza-Gilchrist-Aminu
SG Gordon-Fields-Henry
PG Augustin-Jack-Vasquez
If not trade Okafor keep him but on the bench and not sign Mahinmi
With Kaman and Landry coming off the books, we’ll have roughly $40 million on the books for next year once Gordon signs a new deal. That gives us flexibility in free agency, but I think it’s more important to build through the draft than go out and sign big name free agents.
With a likely top 3 pick and hopefully another lottery pick (Minnesota has the look of a team ready to make a push), the Hornets are in position to get an Anthony Davis or an Andre Drummond caliber player along with another solid piece later on in the draft.
D.J. Augustin is one guy to keep an eye on. The bobcats invested a first round pick last year in Kemba Walker and have the flexibility to let Augustin walk if they do not want to match their restricted free agent’s offer. He has ties to the New Orleans area, having grown up here before being relocated after the hurricane.
DutchHornet: From here but figured you pick up on the last name, haha.
Guys, I’m looking at my watch and we have less than 6 hours #SweatingBullets
The Nola.com report says that the hornets have until 11:59 PM to offer him the extension.
http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ssf/2012/01/sources_new_orleans_hornets_ne.html?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=br_nohornets&utm_source=twitter.com
I dunno if I want this to drag out, the suspense is killing meeee!!
Is this just me but Gordon being out another 3 weeks is a good thing because we lose more games, so maybe we can get like an ANTHONY DAVIS
At least we’ve someone thats committed to the franchise long term.
I hope drummond is no Hilton Armstrong
I still have nightmares about Hilton Armstrong and Cedric Simmons in Hornets uniforms
2006 was the worst Hornets draft class thats forsure
I saw someone with an Armstrong jersey at Monday’s game.
1 – They made Hilton Armstrong jerseys?!?!?!?!
2 – Someone BOUGHT a Hilton Armstrong Jersey?!?!?!?!?!
Um. Cedric Simmons — not a good pick. Hilton Armstrong, a mediocre pick. We partly blew it with Armstrong because Tyson Chandler was able to develop his offense when he got down here, and Armstrong is of the same build so it’s a mystery why we didn’t to do the same thing with Armstrong when we drafted him.
With the Cedric Simmons or Armstrong pick, we could have selected Rondo, or Daniel Gibson, or Paul Millsap (although I will say that had we not picked Simmons several great things would not have happened, like the Bulls-Celtics series in 09.) (In order to preserve the Great Stuff that wouldn’t have happened otherwise, I would have picked one of those aforementioned players at 12 instead of Armstrong and stuck with Simmons.)
How about this: we passed up on Joakim Noah a premier defensive Center (and who fit excellent with Monty’s style) in favor of Julian Wright.
Maybe the guy’s name is Armstrong and that’s a custom built jersey. It’s gotta be that! 🙂
If we can get DJ Augustin we’ll be in great shape. Not to mention people would buy tickets to see him.
Locking down Gordon was a good move for the Hornets. Lord knows that they will have a dickens of a time attracting high quality free agents. I can see them re-upping Chris Kaman too since the Hornets can pay him the most money. With Kaman, Okafur, and Gordon the Hornets have three solid building blocks to be competitive in the future.
I’m so sick of Kaman’s turnovers I throw a fit every time I see him take the floor. No thanks! I’m not so down on Okafor as most people, but that money could probably be spent better on someone else.
Brazilian Hornet’s Poll: What NBA player would you pick to play alongside Eric Gordon?
Vote: http://brazilianhornet.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/quem-voce-escolheria/
Greetings!
Would be a little more interesting if any of the options were actually realistic…
There is an option OTHER PLAYER at the end of poll.
No news is bad news!