If anyone cares about the Hornets


The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets announced today that they have acquired forward Aaron Williams from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for second round picks in 2006 and 2009.

I guess it makes up for the Andersen incident, both big men doing shit but giving the team size.

BTW, i think we should make an "official trades/signings thread"

Look out for the Hornets now, the only red headed black man is in their rotation.

I smell conference finals.

They just traded for Steven Hunter too. They have given up 4 second round picks for these two scrubs. And Hunter has a bad contract too. Shouldn't they be trying to develop their young guys like Lampe and Vroman over these two career scrubs?

Look out for the Hornets now, the only red headed black man is in their rotation.

I smell conference finals.


I believe Darvin Ham is a read head when he's not bald?

http://www.tsn.ca/nba/news_story.asp?id=153172


Hornets add Hunter from 76ers

2/1/2006 11:53:21 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Philadelphia 76ers traded centre Steven Hunter to the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday for two second-round draft picks.

It's the Hornets' second trade in a 24-hour span in an attempt to reinforce their front line following the dismissal of forward Chris Andersen last week for violating the NBA's drug policy.

"We were real small," coach Byron Scott said at the team's shootaround. "We've gotten bigger in a matter of minutes."

Hunter, a seven-footer, is averaging 4.9 points and 3.4 rebounds in 35 games with the 76ers this season. A first-round pick by Orlando in 2001, he played three seasons with the Magic and one with Phoenix before signing with Philadelphia as a free agent before this season.

"We're excited. We bring in another athlete, a seven-foot athlete, 24 years old who runs and jumps and does a lot of the things that we want here," Scott said. "I think he'll fit in extremely well."

The Hornets are giving up their 2006 and 2007 second-round picks and will also receive cash considerations from Philadelphia. On Tuesday, the Hornets acquired Aaron Williams from Toronto for their other 2006 second-round pick and a 2009 second rounder.

The Hornets have two first-round picks in this year's draft, including one they received from Milwaukee when they swapped Canadian Jamaal Magloire for Desmond Mason in the pre-season.

"We were able to get a young centre that we feel is going to get much better and better, that's shown improvement," Scott said. "He had his best year in Phoenix playing the type of basketball that we play. And then we got a veteran in Aaron Williams. We've still got our first-round picks."

Unlike Williams, who played for Scott in New Jersey for more than three seasons, Hunter may take longer to fit in.

"There'll be an adjustment for Steven because this is an offence that he hasn't done," Scott said. "But again, once we get him in, we'll go over it every single day with him just to try to get him as comfortable as possible. ... I don't think it'll take him real long because one thing that we do a lot of is repetition on our offence."

Darvin Ham is a natural redhead.

Look out for the Hornets now, the only red headed black man is in their rotation.

I smell conference finals.


I believe Darvin Ham is a read head when he's not bald?

And we went to the finals too. See, he's right.

Chris, it's ok, I'm always right.

Too bad they have shitty jerseys...id like them more if i could look at them.

the team that is

I feel bad for Lampe, this guy can flat out ball.

Scott is stupid.

I feel bad for Lampe, this guy can flat out ball.

Scott is stupid.

That's correct. He put up 22/13 or something similar in an exhibition game this season, he's been inactive ever since. It's not like Oklahoma City is going to win a Championship this year, so Lampe should definitely get time over Aaron Williams and Steven Hunter. Those guys stink, I'm sorry. You don't give up 4 second round picks and capspace for those two wastes of space.

Lampe, Macijauskas and JR Smith not getting any playing time with this team.. WTF ?

What are they trying to do ? A 1st Round sweep is the most optimstic outcome for them, develop the young guys & the future instead of wasting picks and money.

Well JR Smith started the first month of the season and was horrible. I think he'll eventually get back to that starting spot, but at least he was given chances. I don't get the Lampe treatment at all. And I don't really know much about Macijauskas. But again, why don't they give him a chance?

Byron Scott said that Lampe wasn't playing hard in practice and that Macijauskas can't learn the playing book..

I would be pissed off with that crap if i was an Hornets fan.

Anyway Macijauskas must now have about the same trade value as Jerome James, a smart GM could get a steal with him 'cause this guy can success in this league.

Byron Scott is anti-Euro, no doubt about this one. We speculated about LB, but there is some hate going here.

Wow I'm surprised about the criticism of Scott here.

He's getting a lot of mention as a coach of the year candidate, he won't win of course, but this team was supposed to be a bottom feeding lottery lock, and he's got them over .500 and in the playoff hunt (8th spot right now).

He's doing an amazing job, IMO.

Obviously New Orleans doesn't care about their second round picks, even with the new CBA rules and the NBDL.

I do like the trade for Aaron Williams though - he's an old pro and likely has an expiring contract (didn't look it up).

He's around to teach the young kids to take practice seriously and the Hornets likely hope he can help Lampe and David West get a little bit better.

Hunter? You always hear about his athleticism and what he could bring to a team but he always seems to be moving.

In a league short of decent big men one would assume if he was capable he would have secured a spot somewhere.

I guess teams keep hoping that one day, somewhere, somehow all that potential will be realised and they'll have themselves a capable big.

I don't think it's gonna happen though. Still at the very worse he's a bench player that can come in and get the odd block or 2 so it's no big risk.

Toronto now has 2 firsts and 2 seconds in 2006 and I wouldn't be surprised if they use some of those picks to move Jalen.

New York probably would take him and both seconds for Penny, which helps Toronto clear cap space for the off-season.

Wow I'm surprised about the criticism of Scott here.

He's getting a lot of mention as a coach of the year candidate, he won't win of course, but this team was supposed to be a bottom feeding lottery lock, and he's got them over .500 and in the playoff hunt (8th spot right now).

He's doing an amazing job, IMO.
Sure Scott has done a great job with this team. I just don't get his treatment of his young international players.

So you don't understand Scott benching shitty players and using decent ones?

It doesn't matter if they're International players. If they can't grasp the playbook then they sit.

If those guys layed would the Hornets be better or worse?

They seem to be doing OK right now so fuck the International players.

Lampe isn't shitty. He had some brilliant games in pre-season and he hasn't been activated all season long. The whole "doesn't work hard in practice" thing doesn't make sense to me. With some players, you need to give them a little motivation. I mean, he outplays many of the guys in front of him and is never on the active list. Throw him a bone.

I don't get the whole "grasping the playbook" thing either. International players come over here every year and just fit in fine. Why just this guy doesn't get Scott's complex playbook?

To me, it seems like his digging for excuses not to play these guys. And Scott isn't a saint. He got ran out of New Jersey for ticking people off and doing things capable as this.

Pre-season doesn't count Skelly and you should know that.

How do you know if Lampe practices hard or has "out-played" guys in front of him when he hasn't been active all season long?

And what kind of motivation should Scott be giving the guy? You're not saying Lampe should be given minutes without earning them, are you?

And while it's true most International players come in and seem to be fine not every international player is the same. Maybe Lampe and the other guy are fucking stupid OR just aren't good enough?

And why the fuck are you defending Hornet players?

Who gives a fuck who plays and who doesn't in Oklahoma or Baton Rouge or wherever else they're playing their home games.

Their record indicates that Chris Paul has done a great job. Scott is fortunate enough to have a quality PG running the show and is using the right mix of players to get wins.

Why fucking change it just to play Euros? Fuck the Euros - if they were any good they'd be playing. You think Scott wants to lose games with Chris Paul playing out of his mind?

Pharoah, everything I'm saying here about the Scott situation is speculation. That's all I can do, that's all you can do. I'm not going to go out of my way to defend Byron Scott. To me, it looks like he is treating those guys unfairly and digging for reasons not to give them a chance. Maybe Lampe busts his ass at practice, we don't know that. Byron Scott doesn't have a history of being a people pleaser. His antics ran him out of New Jersey, even though he had tremendous success.

Again, you are right, I don't know if what I'm saying is right. It's my speculation.

Well it's possible he's being a prick to them but I just don't think it's happening.

They were supposed to suck this season. They don't. I doubt his job is on the line or that they weren't willing to play the Euros.

Maybe Paul being so good fucked up their idea? That would make me laugh.

Scott: "Hey guys, we're gonna suck this season so get ready to lose a lot"

Paul: "Fuck that - we're going to the playoff bitch. Give me the ball and Shut the Fuck Up"

Euros: "Damn, no playing time for us now."

I want to point out that I am echoing the points of some Hornets fans about Lampe. He's their Darko. We can say that we are going for the best record in the league and there is no room in front of him with the Wallaces and McDyess. They are trying to squeak into the playoffs and guys like Chris Anderson (not anymore) and now Aaron Williams and Steven Hunter are going to be in front of him.

I'm sure the guy has talent. He fell in the Draft due to his buy out, not his talent.

His deal should be almost up too. The Knicks signed with the MLE (or part of it) way back when.

I don't know why he doesn't get any burn at all - there has to be something going on.

I wonder if anyone else knows?

I guess Insider isn't likely to cover him though, since he's a nobody. Fuck, they rarely cover us.

Bitches

Steven Hunter failed his physical so that trade is on hold

Hunter returns to 76ers after trade rescinded
New Orleans cites concerns over center's physical condition

A trade that would have sent Philadelphia 76ers center Steven Hunter to the New Orleans Hornets was rescinded Wednesday because of concerns over his physical condition.

The trade was originally announced last Wednesday and would have sent Hunter to the Hornets for second-round picks in the 2006 and 2007 draft. Instead, there were questions about Hunter’s condition during a physical and the deal was in limbo.

The teams had extended the deadline several times so that New Orleans officials could analyze the results of Hunter’s physical exam last Friday.

“Their doctor claimed something our doctor and another doctor did not view as significant,” Sixers president Billy King said in a phone interview. “We were in the process of trying to get some assurances. We had some assurances, and it wasn’t enough for them.”

Hornets general manager Jeff Bower said the trade was nixed based on results of Hunter’s physical.

“There’s really not a lot I can say at this point, “Bower said. “The decision was made ... after lengthy consultations with our physicians and several others. We were unable to reach a comfort level to move forward with the trade. At this time we felt we had to go in this direction.”

When asked whether he was angry and disappointed in New Orleans, King said, “I’ll bite my tongue.”

The 7-foot Hunter has averaged 4.9 points and 3.4 rebounds in 35 games with the 76ers this season.

He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in 2002 and missed 39 games while recovering from surgery. Citing medical privacy, the Hornets haven’t said whether that injury was holding up the completion of the trade.

King wouldn’t reveal what the holdup was. But he said the condition was nothing that forced Hunter to miss a game or practice in the last two years.

“None whatsoever,” King said. “I was shocked when they told me there was a problem.”

The Sixers were in Charlotte for a game Wednesday night, and Hunter wasn’t expected to rejoin the team until Thursday.

“The initial stages will be odd, but his teammates and coaches will welcome him back with open arms like everyone else,” King said.

Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said he hoped Hunter would adjust quickly to returning to Philadelphia.

“He’s familiar with the surroundings, so it’s not like he’s coming to a new place,” Cheeks said. “You have to endure it, take it in, feel it a little bit and then come back and give us your best.”

Hunter was projected to help out a front line that lost Chris Andersen last month for violating the league’s drug policy.

Hunter was a first-round pick by Orlando in 2001 and played three seasons with the Magic and one with Phoenix before signing with Philadelphia as a free agent. King said he wasn’t necessarily going to try and trade Hunter again before the Feb. 23 deadline.

“We were doing the deal because it gave us (salary) flexibility, but at this point in time, we’re just trying to get him back on the court,” King said.

Hornets coach Byron Scott said he was surprised by the news, which he received about 90 minutes before his team’s game against the Seattle SuperSonics.

“I thought we had gotten to the point that both parties were OK with it,” Scott said. “We’re disappointed and I’m sure he is. He was looking forward to being here.”

There is some precedence to NBA trades being rescinded, once also involving the Sixers.

In 1997, a deal that would have sent Clarence Weatherspoon and Michael Cage to Boston for Dino Radja was nullified when Radja failed his physical and opted to play in Europe.

Most notably, Detroit traded Sean Elliott to Houston in 1994 for Matt Bullard and Robert Horry, only to have that deal fall through after Elliot failed a physical with the Pistons. Bullard and Horry were forced to return to the Rockets.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/11241525/