Hornets247.com

A Panel of 93 ESPN.com contributors and experts were polled to predict the wins for each team for the upcoming 2010-2011 season.  The Hornets don't fare well in it.  Rest assured, I was more optimistic than 38 wins, even if the rest of the Panel did not feel that way.  From the article:

The Washington Post reports that both CP3 and David West were in Washington for an all-star pick-up game with the President.

Obama, who turned 49 on Wednesday, took to the court for a game with a stunning list of all-stars, including Grant Hill, Shane Battier, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Derek Fisher, LeBron James, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Maya Moore, Alonzo Mourning, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Bill Russell, Etan Thomas, Dwyane Wade and David West. The game was closed to the media.

Kobe Bryant was there but didn't play, according to the White House, and aides provided no details about the game, which took place at Fort McNair in the District, where Obama often plays basketball with friends.

John DeShazier of the Times-Picayune talks about how the team hasn't changed and speculates on what was promised to Chris Paul.

I'm not sure how creative new General Manager Dell Demps can be this late in the game, given that he wasn't hired until late July and teams are less likely to be swindled now than they might have been when free agency opened on July 1.

Presently, it appears that if Paul was promised that the team aggressively would attempt to improve via trades in exchange for Paul quieting down his desire to be traded, the Hornets aren't going to be able to do anything significant until the trade deadline. If they can stay in playoff contention until then, likely with Paul playing All-NBA level basketball while leading the way, fine.

But if they're out of the race, and no significant additions have been made - and I'm not expecting Rookie-of-the-Year stuff from Craig Brackins and Quincy Pondexter, who are the only new faces on the current roster - then Paul probably will be steamed.

Rightfully, he'd be steamed.

Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Start is reporting that the the Pacers have inquired about Darren Collison since the draft, and have been told that he's unavailable.

Cross Darren Collison of New Orleans and George Hill of San Antonio off your wish list. Officials from both teams told the Pacers they aren't available. All-Stars Chris Paul and Tony Parker never were an option.

I have a hard time believing that the Pacers couldn't put together a good package for Darren Collison. He's a good player and all, but untouchable?

So for that reason I sort of don't believe this. Just wanted to share anyway.

From ESPN Los Angeles via good ol At the Hive:

"Shannon could have made more money somewhere else, but I think he really wanted to play this out with the Lakers," Bartelstein said. "They've won it [all] two years in a row and the chance to win three straight [championships] doesn't come around every day."

Brown is likely the last piece of the Lakers' offseason puzzle. Though the negotiations took longer than expected, he and the team had expressed a desire to work a deal. Brown strongly considered the New York Knicks and New Orleans Hornets.

NBA.com presents video of the press conference where Ayers and Vinson were introduced.

Lang Greene of HoopsWorld breaks down the Hornets and concludes its unlikely for the Hornets to make the playoffs this season. 

Even with a healthy Paul and talented young guards, the Hornets' roster as currently constructed is extremely thin in the frontcourt. A significant injury to West, Okafor or Stojakovic won't be as easy to absorb as missing Paul, with Collison waiting in the wings.

Paul's presence in the lineup, barring other injuries, should keep the Hornets at or slightly above .500, but the playoff bar (last season OKC Thunder was a 50 win eighth seed) will be extremely improbable to attain.

It's a decent look at the team as a whole, and if the team isn't changed between now and the season, I'm not going to lay any bets on them making the playoffs either.

Chad Ford and John Hollinger rank the NBA teams on their future potential, based on players under contract, financials, ownership and draft potential.  The Hornets do not come out well, ranking 23rd out of 30 teams.

It's a good-news, bad-news situation in New Orleans. The good news is that the Hornets' disastrous cap situation will ease after this season, especially if they can pay somebody to take James Posey off their hands. Alas, New Orleans could be facing an even worse problem. Point guard Chris Paul appears to be trying to force his way out of town, taking with him the Hornets' lone source of star power.

Even with the superstar guard, it's hard to get excited about the team's future. They have two good young guards in Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton and a minor star in power forward David West. The ownership is in flux while George Shinn negotiates a sale to Gary Chouest; the threadbare front office is now under the control of Dell Demps, who was fourth on the totem pole in San Antonio until his recent hiring; and the market is one of the least appealing for free agents. And while it's possible the Hornets could be well under the cap next summer, it's also possible West could leave as a free agent.

Art Garcia of NBA.com lists the free agents coming up over the next few years and talks about their prospects.  His take on the Hornets Free Agents is pedestrian:

David West (ETO): Depending on what happens with Paul, this two-time All Star could beat his celebrated teammate out the door in New Orleans.

Marcus Thornton: Second-round steal last summer averaged 14.5 points as a Hornets rookie. Could be looking at a Wesley Matthews-type raise.

Chris Paul (ETO): CP3 isn't a free agent now? Memos and warnings aside, courting clubs will spend the next two years lining up, a la LeBron. The question for the Hornets' new front office: Do they wait it out and risk losing the league's best point guard for nothing in return or, unlike Toronto and Cleveland, broker a deal to get value back?

I'm just stunned he didn't talk about Julian Wright, Peja Stojakovic and Aaron Gray!

NBA.com presents:  Dell Demps talkin' about Chris Paul and the meeting with the gathered media.