More Hornets Trades

Someone wrote me two days ago and asked:

“Fletcher, how’s about writing something about the Hornets other than a trade scenario.”

This person is right…so here goes.

Chris Paul is amazing.  Our city is lucky to have him representing us.

David West is a very good player and a great compliment to Paul.

Byron Scott is as open and honest of a head coach as you’ll find in sports and a guy truly capable of motivating players.

When Peja Stojakovic is hot, the Hornets seem unbeatable.

But the New Orleans Hornets in my mind are not a championship team.

Yes, they’re going to the playoffs and they’re going to do fine, but winning the west means beating the Los Angeles Lakers. 

In my opinion the Hornets need one more capable scorer to get past LA.

So here are two trade that may work for both teams involved:

TRADE #1

New Orleans Hornets

Incoming Players
	Marco Belinelli Salary: $1,446,720  Years Remaining: 2 PTS: 9.6  REB: 1.7  AST: 2.1  PER: 12.60

Outgoing Players: Julian Wright

Golden State Warriors

Incoming Players
	Julian Wright Salary: $1,869,600  Years Remaining: 2 PTS: 3.0  REB: 1.6  AST: 0.8  PER: 11.58

Outgoing Players: Marco Belinelli

WHY: young 1st round pick for young 1st round pick.  Belinelli has finally started getting minutes for the Warriors and he’s producing.  Belinelli could be the scorer the Hornets have been missing.  The Italian tore up the Hornets in the Vegas summer league two summers ago and is a player that could eventually start in the back court with Chris Paul…meaning Belinelli helps the Hornets now with offense off the bench and long term as a starter.  I’d do this deal in a second but given the fact that Byron Scott seems have some sort of disdain for developing young player and euros (expect CP3 and Peja) I doubt this trade would ever happen.  Read the next trade below to see why Julian Wright helps Golden State.  

TRADE #2:

New Orleans Hornets

 

Incoming Players
	Kelenna Azubuike Salary: $2,900,000  Years Remaining: 2 PTS: 13.8  REB: 4.8  AST: 1.5  PER: 14.29

Outgoing Players: Sean Marks, Julian Wright

Golden State Warriors

Incoming Players
	Sean Marks Salary: $797,581  Years Remaining: 1 PTS: 2.4  REB: 2.5  AST: 0.2  PER: 5.02
	Julian Wright Salary: $1,869,600  Years Remaining: 2 PTS: 3.0  REB: 1.6  AST: 0.8  PER: 11.58

Outgoing Players: Kelenna Azubuike

WHY: Golden State has an insane number of wing players (Corey Maggette, Jamal Crawford, Stephen Jackson, Monte Ellis, Marco Belinelli) and Azubuike has the most tradeable/managable contract.

Azubuike could step in and start at shooting gurad or be a top scorer off the bench as a wing player. 

The Warriors are terrible this year and looking to reshape their roster a bit.  Wright would team with Anthony Randolph and Andris Biedrins giving coach Don Nelson more depth in his front court.  Sean Marks contract makes the deal work money-wise.