New Orleans Hornets

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 09-10 season                                                             Cap Room: -9,785,156                              Best Bench Player: Peja Stojakovic

20th place Overall                                                      Luxury Tax: No                                           Power Rankings: 19

11th in Conference                                                    Best Player: Chris Paul               Owner/Net Worth: George Shinn/100M

Did not make playoffs                                               Coach: Monty Williams                                Team Value: 285 milli

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Starting 5       

                                                 PG  Chris Paul PR#1                              SG Marcus Thornton PR#20                                                                                                                                               

                                         SF Trvor Ariza PR#11                 C Emeka Okafor PR#16                     PF David West PR#18                                                                                                                                                     

Bench Grade: D

PG SG  SF Marco Bellineli, Quincy Pondexter, Peja Stojakovic PF Darius Songaila, Craig Brackins C

Can New Orleans keep Chris Paul?

Chris Paul right now is playing politician. He won’t officially say he wants out to disappoint the fans but it’s pretty clear he does. New York seems like the most likely suitor and if New Orleans was to trade him Anthony Randolph or Danilo Gallinari would not be bad consolation prizes. The Magic would also be likely suitors. (Wouldn’t it be funny to have arguably the best player’s at all five positions in the same state. Paul Wade James Bosh Howard) But the Magic could also give some valuable pieces like a Marcian Gortat, a center who would probably start on most teams, or a JJ Reddick or both. They would also be decent consolation prizes. But clearly the goal is to keep Paul. You have a point guard whose value is extremely high. Teams like Memphis, Indiana, Toronto would love to get their hands on. Memphis could give OJ Mayo, a much better compliment to Paul and Sam Young and good young small forward. Indiana and Toronto couldn’t give much but could be used in a three team deal. But something has to be done to show New Orleans is at least trying to build a championship team around Chris Paul.