2013-14 Finish: 40-42

Season Highlight

Jordan Crawford played like a superstar for most of the year. Hornets had a young promising team lead by SuperJamaal. But bad trade(s), injuries and generally sub par play of the youngsters derailed the season. By the time the spring knocked on the doors, they were alreday to late. Pels finished the season with an 8-4, a run promising of better times. And Jamal should be healthy again. Best moment probably came in the offseason when Bledsoe finlally signed a new contract in NBA.

Season Lowlight

Long time GM Daved left NLL soon after the booting of GM Nick, supposedly on bad terms. Could prove to be catastrophic for the team and NLL due to him being the "code guy". Turned out ok for the league, the jury is still out for the Hornets. GM fabiano followed but was soon sacked due to inactivity. Now it's blackmajestic time. Is he the right guy to lead Hornets back to playoffs?

Best Trade

The New Orleans Pelicans send Josh McRoberts to the New York Knicks. The New York Knicks send Brandan Wright to the New Orleans Pelicans. The New Orleans Pelicans trade -7 GM points.The New York Knicks receive 7 GM points.

Wright was great for Pelicans and is signed for one more year. Josh couldn't crack the rotation for the Knicks (he was solid in very limited minutes) and is gone after the year for greener pastures. Could Josh play as well as Wright for the pels? Maybe, we'll never know.

Worst Trade
 
The Houston Rockets send Andrew Bynum, Lance Stephenson and Khris Middleton to the New Orleans Pelicans. The New Orleans Pelicans send Jarrett Jack, Xavier Henry and Nikola Vucevic to the Houston Rockets.
The Houston Rockets send a 2nd-Rounder (Hou) to the New Orleans Pelicans. The New Orleans Pelicans send a 1st-Rounder (NO) to the Houston Rockets.

Trading for Bynum sounded like a great idea, but turned to be a terrible one. Bynum got injured quick, played bad while healthy and doesn't really care about basketball anymore. If you count out bynum it's Lance, Midlleton for Vucevic, Jack, Lavine. Not a disaster, but could get more for his players. Is Lance restricted?

Other Notable Trades

No other notable deals for the Pelicans. Lamb, Shengelia and Mahinmi were traded for GM points.

Best FA Signing

DeMarre Carrol. DeMarre brought a lot of intangibles to the Hornets squad. He was all that AK47 was supposed to be - defense, hustle, efficiency. All that on a bargain contract. it looks like he's on the out forthe Hornets, stuck behind a bunch of guards that play in a three guard rotation.

Worst FA Signing

Andrei Kirilenko. Ugh. Hornets spent 20 GM points on Kirilenko. He was injured most of the year and when he wasn't GM Daved wished he was. 4 points, sub 40% shooting from your SF/PF hybrid.

Star

Jamal Crawford. Jamaal was in MVP considerations. Best player in the west. 6 Player of the week awards. but then he got injured and down went Pelicans. Jamal was stellar in 12/13 and improved in 13/14. 35.8 points (2nd in the league), 47% fg, 39% 3p, 99!% Ft. This year we'll get another stella season (MVP like if given playtime). Maybe it's time to sell high. Note to GM - Crawford is much better then Bledsoe and dragic (combined ;)-


Surprise

Brandan Wright is a long time solid contributor in the NLL, one of the highest efficiency guys here. His problems are that he's neither PF with range, nor a rim protecting center. He carved himself a nice role for the injury depleted Pelicans' frontcourt, averagibng 11.4 and 8.3 in 33 minutes on 63% from the field. Expect him to play an important role for one more year.


Goat

Andrew Bynum went bowling somewhere in decemeber and then decided not to play again. bynum was solid in Houston, or rather stelalr, fooled daved and then played like a complete tool in NO ()from 21, 10, 47% to 11,7,36%) . To make amtters worse, he's got a guaranteed 12 million contract for 2014/15 (might earn GOAT for the second year in the row if not amnestied).

Draft Report Card

Hornets had two second rounders. They used the first one on Deandre Daniels. With 44th pick they've gor an unexpected surprise, sharply falling europrospect Bogdan Bogdanovic. Bogdan was solid in the World Cup but looks happy in Europe and there are many questions about his commitment to come over. Maybe in a few years.

Looking to the Future

Pelicans fell out of the playoffs in the West. The west is getting stronger, but as long as you have Crawford you're safe. GM blackmajestic will have to restructure the roster to make it more balanced and competitive as they look like a first round fodder as currently constructed. A further development of the youngsters should improve the team. Next summer will be specially interesting for the team as they'll have to resign a lot of guys which could bloat their payroll.


Upcoming Free Agents

Eric Bledsoe - resigned in NBA after long negotiations. Probably a bit overpaid but has potential to be a cornerstone of the franchise.

Lance Stephenson - traded in NBA, signed a reasonble though short contract. He could be back or traded. guards are hot commodity in NBA but there's a time when you have to say that enough is enough. Lance didn't get any play time in the preseason at all and is behind Dragic, Bledose, Crawford and Harrington in the rotation. Time to bring in a solid guy over 6.5?