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Recent Activity

• Chris Paul's Surgery Could have Long Term Effect.

  Journal comment - about 8 hours ago

  -My favorite TickTock post ever. #

• The State of the (Hornets) Union

  Journal comment - about 23 hours ago

  Just a quick comment on Bower- Those contracts that Bower shed may not translate into lots of wins, but it enabled us to get below the luxury tax line. Those moves were worth roughly 25 million dollars to the small-market Hornets. That money isn't just going to sit around unused. Now when next year comes, and we can unload Peja, Mo-P, Songaila or whoever, there will be some additional cash on hand if we need to go over the luxury tax line.
  
  Did he do the cash cutting moves to make the team better? Doesn't seem like it. He did it because the team wasn't going to contend as built this year, and Shinn can't afford to be 10 million over the luxury tax line if we aren't going to make it past the first round of the playoffs. A GM's job is not only to win games, but also to make sure the team stats financially viable, which he's done a great job with.
  
  Am I arguing he's the greatest GM in the world? No, but i would say he's well above average. What he he did to get under the luxury tax line is a thing of beauty, especially considering we kept our entire core together while doing it. How many GM's would have said "Fine, I'll just give someone David West", and been done with it? I can name about 12 who have faced the same situation as Bower and opted to give up real contributors instead of slowly and methodically dealing worthless players.
  
  The Peja contract was to prove Nola a viable place for big name free agents. He did have a few pretty good years before age set in. Bower isn't the first or only GM that has given big bucks to an older, big name player. Of course it didn't turn out well, but hindsight is 20-20.
  
  Also, don't forget, Ike Diogu was supposed to be the first big man off the bench this year before he went down with a season ending injury.
  
  Chris Paul getting hurt is the difference between us making the playoffs and where we are now, not the departure of Devin Brown, Antonio Daniels, Bobby Brown, Hilton Armstrong, and Rasual Butler. Had Paul stayed healthy and the team wound up as the 6-8 seed, as they likely would have, you might be talking about Bower as executive of the year.
  
  So to summarize- I like Jeff Bower and think he does a great job for the team, especially this year. You obviously disagree, and that'sthe beauty of sports. We don't have to agree to discuss it.
  
  That being said, next year you will feel the same way about Bower. I have a feeling he has a pretty good plan to surround the core with some more talent.
  
  This quick comment got long fast... #

• Salary Value at the Center Position

  Blog comment - about 23 hours ago

  I agree. That was one of Larry Brown's biggest complaints about Emeka. I would love to see him playing angry for a whole game, but given his friendly nature, I can't it happening.
  
  That's not to say he can't be a very good player for, just that he might never have that anger that intensity that drives a lot of star players. #

• Game On: Hornets @ Thunder

  Blog comment - 1 day ago

  My apologies. That game made me drink a little much. Won't happen again.
  
  Bower took over the franchise following the draft, and is largely credited for the Chris Paul draft choice. #

• Game On: Hornets @ Thunder

  Blog comment - 1 day ago

  Hornets under Jeff Bower: 29-27 (.518)*
  
  *For those scoring at home, that's above .500
  
  Crappy game though. Thanks for the questions and comments on the DD Chat. #

• Game On: Hornets @ Thunder

  Blog comment - 2 days ago

  Another must-win game for the Bees. I'll be on ESPN's Daily Dime Chat throughout the game, so stop by if you get a minute. #

• Salary Value at the Center Position

  Blog comment - 2 days ago

  Sorry about the typo. It's been fixed.
  
  He's a solid big man, and solid veteran big men cost a bunch of money. It's jsut the reality of the NBA. #

• Who to watch in March Madness - Part 1 - Shooting Guards

  Blog comment - 2 days ago

  Nice work. I can't imagine us taking a guard. Can't wait for the big men. #

• Salary Value at the Center Position

  Blog comment - 2 days ago

  Lee isn't a great defensive player but there are more than a few reasons why that is. First off he's really a power forward, not a center, so he gets abused by bigger, stronger guys. He's good at defending the pick and roll.
  
  His biggest strength on offense happens to be executing the pick and roll.
  
  All this and the best offer he had last off season was 1 year for seven million. However, he doesn't fit under our new "be tall" strategy.
  
  Thanks for the kind comments all. #

• Looking Back at Chandler for Okafor

  Blog comment - 3 days ago

  @NOengineer- well put. I completely agree.
  
  @downtown- thanks! #