New Orleans Hornets: 2009 NBA Draft

Jeff Fox — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:23:25 -0700

2009 NBA DRAFT: NBA Team Needs/Capsules - NBA Mock Draft - Top 100 Prospects

- We’ll update our Team Capsules with more specific info once the lottery is complete.

New Orleans Hornets

2008-09 Record: 49-33

Draft Picks: 21

Key Free Agents:

Devin Brown (Player option)

Sean Marks

How They Got Here:

Heading into this season the Hornets were widely believed to be on the verge of becoming a new powerhouse in the West. Then they went out and won seven less games than the year before and tried, unsuccessfully, to trade away Tyson Chandler. Now it appears that the young core of the team is going to be broken up. The Hornets organization does not want to have to pay the NBA luxury tax next season (expected to be around the $70 million mark), and with next year’s payroll already locked in at $76 million, something has to give. So expect high-priced stars Chandler or David West to be shipped out in the off-season.

What They Need:

Cheap, young talent - which is what the NBA draft is all about. Considering one of their top bigs will probably be dealt, they could use a big body with their only pick in June’s draft. Even if West and Chandler stick around for 09/10, the team still needs some frontcourt depth.

Who They'll Take:

At pick #21 there should be plenty of big men for the Hornets to choose from. Patrick Patterson, Gani Lawal, BJ Mullens, Tyler Hansbrough, DeJuan Blair- the list goes on and on. The best of that bunch is probably Paterson, who could turn out to be a poor man’s Elton Brand (i.e. undersized but strong with a long wingspan). If they’re willing to take a risk and be patient (and are desperate enough for a center) they could take a flier on Mullens.

New Orleans Hornets Draft History (since 2000)

2008: Darrell Arthur (27)
2007: Julian Wright (13), Adam Haluska (43)
2006: Hilton Armstrong (12), Cedric Simmons (15), Marcus Vinicius (43)
2005: Chris Paul (4), Brandon Bass (33)
2004: J.R. Smith (18), Tim Pickett (44)
2003: David West (18), James Lang (48)
2002: No picks
2001: Kirk Haston (16)
2000: Jamaal Magloire (19)

2009 NBA DRAFT: NBA Team Needs/Capsules - NBA Mock Draft - Top 100 Prospects

Top Prospects

Stephen Curry - PG/SG - Davidson

Tyreke Evans - PG/SG - Memphis

Blake Griffin - PF - Oklahoma

James Harden - SG - Arizona State

Jordan Hill - PF - Arizona

Ty Lawson - PG - UNC

BJ Mullens - C - Ohio State

Ricky Rubio - PG - DKV Joventut

Brandon Jennings - PG - Arizona

Hasheem Thabeet - C - UCONN

New Orleans Hornets: NBA Draft Team Needs

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 27 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700

NBA Draft: New Orleans Hornets

Record: 39-43, 4^th Southwest

Draft Picks: 13, 43

Team Needs: The Hornets seemed to take care of their frontcourt for the future in taking Cedric Simmons and Hilton Armstrong last year. What they need now is a versatile swingman to take some of the perimeter pressure off of Chris Paul.

Who Should They Pick: F Al Thornton (Florida State)

Draft History Since 1999

2006: Hilton Armstrong (12), Cedric Simmons (15), Marcus Vinicius (43)

2005: Chris Paul (4), Brandon Bass (32)

2004: JR Smith (18), Tim Pickett (44)

2003: David West (18)

2002: None

2001: Kirk Haston (16)

2000: Jamaal Magloire (19)

1999: Baron Davis (3), Lee Nailon (43)

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