At the end of the 2007-2008 season, the New Orleans Hornets were fresh off a very good season. They were the #2 seed in the West (56 wins), had just lost a close 7 game series to the Spurs (the defending champs), and Chris Paul had officially claimed the unofficial title of "NBA's Best Point Guard." The arrows were clearly pointing up for the franchise. Fast forward 3+ years, and Chris Paul is ready to leave. How did this happen? Well, most players, especially great players, want to win, get paid, and live in a great place (the ranking of those three are up to you). As far as winning, the Hornets effectively used the last 3 years to show CP3, step by step, that they could not give him a roster built to win. In fact, they couldn't even maintain the success of the 2008 season.
Step 1: The Hornets Sign James Posey
Fresh off the Celtics' 2008 title run, this certainly seemed like a good idea for a Hornets team that seemed one piece away from getting their own title. However, as previously discussed in this space, this may not have been the best use of a contender's limited cap space.
Step 2: Tyson Chandler Traded to the Bobcats
Despite the friendship between Tyson Chandler and Chris Paul, the positive boost the Paul-Chandler pick and roll gave the 2008 Hornet offense, and Chandler's above-the-rim superiority to Emeka Okafor, the Hornets thought this was a move to improve the team. Today, Emeka is an albatross contract the Hornets' can't move, and Tyson Chandler just helped Dallas win its first title, essentially playing the role he played in New Orleans.
Step 3: Botching The Draft
For teams in contention, turning late 1st round picks into quality rotation players seems like a stretch. Turning those picks into starters seems like alchemy. But the Hornets' use and development of draft picks has been spotty, at best. 2008? Traded Darrell Arthur, an athletic power forward that gives great depth and minutes to the Memphis frontcourt, for cash. 2009? Actually hit on two good prospects, Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton. But, traded both of them in less than a year for Trevor Ariza / Marco Belinelli and Carl Landry, respectively. 2010? It's too early to tell, but Quincy Pondexter and Brackins haven't yet shown they're rotation pieces on a contender.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but take a look at those moves in total, and the respective rosters they created:
Roster 1: Marcus Thornton, free agent Tyson Chandler, Darrell Arthur, post-injury David West
Roster 2: Emeka Okafor, Trevor Ariza, free agent Carl Landry, post-injury David West
Looks to me like one roster is a lot more appealing than the other. And, if you're Chris Paul, you've watched the New Orleans front office turn Roster 1 into Roster 2. If you had 5-7 peak years left, assuming your knee holds up, would you believe this organization honestly gives you the best chance to win?
I wouldn't.
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