2010-2011 Finish: 50-32

What went well

The New Orleans Hornets are good and it's starting to get old. Heck, they even finished the season with the exact same record as the year before. But when will the Hornets become great? It's a tough thing to transition from being a good team to a great team. Would this be the year they did it?

They appeared to be off to a good start, beginning the season with a deal that brought much-vaunted Amare Stoudemire to town for Andre Iguodala, Dahntay Jones and Taj Gibson. The second move was a little more iffy, sending away stud point guard Rajon Rondo and crusty Marcus Camby getting back Tayshaun Prince, sophomore phenom Darren Collison and Jason Thompson.

DaveD didn't have the best luck during the free agency period, and he let his frustration be known. He did end up with JJ Redick at a cheap rate and a handful of no names. Not the success needed to become great but with additions Stoudemire and Prince along with sharpshooter Ray Allen, the Hornets seemed dressed for success. Heck, they even won their division.

What went worse

But the team couldn't make the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs, losing in a heartbreaking 118-104 defeat in Game Seven where Gilbert Arenas hit 32 points. Prince didn't show in the series like the team expected and once again it was time to go fishing down in the Big Easy.

Stars

- Amare Stoudemire- F

This was the first year out of NJ in a long time for Stoudemire. Though he wasn't as dominant in the past, he still averaged a respectable 20 ppg and 10.3 rpg. DaveD gave up quite a bit to get the big man and Amare repaid his new GM in spades with production.


- Ray Allen- G

In his second season with the Hornets, Allen saw his scoring average go up to 22.3 ppg, hitting 47% of his field and 45% of those from beyond the three point arc. He is 36 years old, but his shot selection is getting better as he ages. Plus he's played more than 70 games in the past four seasons. Guess he found the fountain of youth.

Goats

- Kenyon Martin, F –

Though the Hornets got Kenyon Martin at a reduced rate, he still didn't fulfill the expectations to be DaveD's starting forward. He appeared in only 54 games, starting just 13 of them, and averaging 7.4 ppg. He will never get a large contract again.


Looking to the future

The Hornets can easily slid into the new season with its entire starting lineup and most of its bench intact, especially since Prince has indicated that he is willing to come back with a new deal. After Prince signs, DaveD will have some money left, cash he should use to shore up his bench. He could especially use a pair of big men and a sharpshooter. Then the Hornets may eve be great. The proof is in the pudding and mixing up the equation here will likely yield not so great results. Fine tune, Dave, don't do anything too drastic.

He may have found that sharpshooter in the draft in Jordan Hamilton. Though unlikely to contribute much at first, Hamilton is loaded with potential and can flat-out shoot. Same goes for second-rounder Andrew Goudelock. That is definitely something the Hornets need. One of those much-needed big men could come in the form of Jeremy Tyler. Tyler, with the correct coaching, could become one of the league's best bigs. Stay tuned!