New Orleans Hornets should stand pat, pick a player in NBA Draft

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on June 16, 2009 at 9:43 AM, updated July 30, 2009 at 4:38 PM

Keep the pick, take a player.

New Orleans Hornets coach Byron Scott, left, and general manager Jeff Bower should agree on a player and draft him next week.

That's about as complex as it should be for the Hornets during the NBA Draft on June 25, when the franchise has an opportunity to add new, young, athletic blood to a team that could use more of all three.

Sure, we understand every option must be explored, that a franchise could make New Orleans an offer it can't refuse. But, realistically, what's the likelihood someone will knock off the Hornets' socks with a deal for the No. 21 overall pick in a draft almost every expert has labeled weak? And what's the likelihood, given what we saw of New Orleans' bench last season - when you didn't need an expert to label it as weak - that there won't be available at No. 21 a player who can upgrade that bench?

With that in mind, it seems to make the most sense to keep the pick and take a player. Because getting rid of the pick - if it happens, it'll be the second consecutive season the Hornets would do so - wouldn't send a cheery message.

First, it might suggest the Hornets believe they can't get help from a young player, that the franchise (and, specifically, the coaching staff) isn't in the player development business.

Coach Byron Scott already has absorbed direct-hit missiles of criticism in that area, with critics pointing to the fact that J.R. Smith (first-round pick in 2004) and Brandon Bass (second-rounder in 2005) blossomed after leaving New Orleans, and Julian Wright (first-rounder in 2007) and Hilton Armstrong (first-rounder in 2006) seem stagnant with the Hornets.

None of that is an illegitimate claim. Regardless of how it looked at the time when Smith and Bass left, the fact is each carved out a prominent role in Denver (Smith) and Dallas (Bass).

But the other side of that coin is if Scott and his staff receive all the discredit for the failed development of those four, do they similarly receive credit for the positive steps made by Chris Paul, David West, Rasual Butler, Sean Marks and Tyson Chandler (who, even though he took a step back last season, still was a better player than he was when he left Chicago)? Or is it a case where "good" players self-develop via their own hard work and direction, and "bad" players are the products of coaching staffs?

The second not-so-great message would be the hint that the Hornets, after saying they'd have no problem paying a luxury tax if that's what it took for the team to be a championship-level outfit, might be willing to get rid of the pick because of financial considerations. Because first-round picks mean guaranteed money and the Hornets are going to have to cut payroll if they don't want to pay the luxury tax.

The second that players and fans believe a franchise is dumping salary instead of trying to win a championship - and that was the case last season when Chandler was traded for a couple of Oklahoma City backups who couldn't get on the court for the Thunder, and his teammates were salty and fans were angry until the trade was rescinded because of Chandler's surgically-repaired toe - players become mercenaries who head for the exit as soon as their contracts allow, and fans lose faith in the direction of the franchise. And they decide to spend their money somewhere else.

If the Hornets are serious about improving, it's not going to hurt this year to pick a young guy who can add some punch off the bench. If they're sincere about being willing to pay the luxury tax, then the pick and another addition or two in free agency (plus a couple of subtractions via free agency) would fit nicely.

True, trading away the pick last season seemed to be the prudent move, with James Posey en route as the big-ticket free agent and the belief that a rookie might not even make the team.

But that kind of concern doesn't exist this season. The No. 21 pick would make the Hornets' roster and, likely, would make the Hornets better.

Keep the pick, take a player.