2012 Draft Has Great Opportunity for the New Orleans Hornets

The New Orleans Hornets enter the 2012 NBA Draft with the number 1 overall selection. Although they say publicly they are keeping their options open all know they will be using that picks to acquire Anthony Davis, PF from Kentucky.

Davis is a player who appears to have all the tools necessary to become an elite big man. Many have predicted he has NBA All-Defensive first team honors in his future. The odds of this are increased by having a coach like Monty Williams. Offensively Davis will be able to make his mark on the game as well. He has the ability to take defenders off the dribble and should develop a fine perimeter game over time. One aspect of his offensive game that may take a little longer to develop will be his post play. However with the addition of some size/muscle things will go more smoothly.

As a team the Hornets need to improve drastically on both sides of the ball. With an offensive rating of 100.9 and a defensive of 105.9 (points per 100 possessions) a change in the roster was definitely coming. Yet, despite those numbers and a record of 21-45, the hornets find themselves in a very good position.

Scoring will take a huge leap up as the team will have a healthy Eric Gordon, the addition of Davis, and the subtraction of Trevor Ariza, who had a horrible shot selection. Although no one is an elite scorer between Gordon, Chris Kaman, Jarrett Jack and Davis they will be able to compete on the offensive end. Carl Landry is also an offensive presence although it has yet to be seen whether or not he will start. Last season he averaged 18.4 points per 36 minutes (2nd on the team), however, his efficiency has been dropping consistently and he turns the ball over too frequently. Marco Belinelli should come off the bench to spell Gordon and still offer a scoring threat as he has a solid outside jumper.

The Hornets ranked 8th overall in points allowed per game. That would normally be a very good number however in this case I believe it is misleading. Opposing teams not scoring many points has more to do with them not needing to than not being able too. The hornets were that challenged offensively. Defensively Monty Williams hopes to be able to turn things around. He is known as a coach who has a terrific defensive mind, and he is attuned to his players and getting them to defend with pride, passion and toughness on every possession. Initially, the game is going to be way too fast for Davis. However, with the coaching he'll receive, and the example his teammates will set in the form of doing their jobs on defense every night, it shouldn't be long before he catches up. A liability defensively will be the point guard position. Likely starter Jarrett Jack and backup Greivis Vasquez both struggle with quick point guards. Hopefully a good sound defensive scheme and help from teammates will be able to cover what they lack.

So far nothing seems all that special about the spot the Hornets are in. Davis is definitely a bright spot, but one certainly isn't enough in today's game. Due to the trade sending Ariza and Emeka Okafor to the Wizards in exchange for Rashard Lewis the Hornets have dumped two bad contracts and cleared up cap room. They are expected to buy out Lewis's contract and release him on July 1st. Although it will help out this year, next season is when they will all be off the books and New Orleans will have a lot of money to work with. Since they know that, and players like Deron Williams and other veterans are out there and potentially available, it raises the question of how they will handle the 10th pick they have in this year's draft. I would love to see the Hornets shore up the point guard position. Someone who could handle the load defensively and have great court vision with decent scoring would be ideal. I don't think they need to go with a point guard who is a tremendous offensive threat. The problem is the point guard position is particularly weak this draft class. I would like to see the Hornets take a chance on a guy with huge upside potential with their 10th pick, Meyers Leonard, C. He's very athletic and quick. He can score around the basket well but will also be a huge defensive presence in the middle. There is more value going with a guy like him now, and shoring up the point guard spot later with a veteran or out of the draft next year. If Damian Lillard was still around at 10 they will probably take him, but I don't think he'll fall that far. It may be a weak class, but he is still the best of it.

With a relatively young team, two picks in the top 10, a solid coach and great cap space the Hornets are primed to make moves quickly. The key, as always, will be how they gel as a team and what kind of consistency the front office can provide. With only a couple more pieces the Hornets could very quickly be on people's radar. Although they won't be doing it this season, we can already see how this draft is marking a pivotal point in the turn of the franchise. They are positioning themselves to build around a young, marketable guy in Davis and surround him with talent. Sounds like a winning formula.