2007 NBA Season Preview - New Orleans Hornets

A Look at the Upcoming 07-08 Season

New Orleans Hornets
'06-'07 Record/Standing: 39-43 (.476); 4^th in Southwest Division
'06-'07 Postseason (if applicable): n/a
Coach (Record): Byron Scott, 4^th season (117-151); 8^th season overall
Key Additions: SF Julian Wright (draft; 1^st round, 13th

overall); SG Morris Peterson (FA; Toronto); SG Glen Wesley (trade; Cleveland)
Key Losses: G/F Desmond Mason (FA; Milwaukee); F Cedric Simmons (trade; Cleveland); SG Devin Brown (FA; Cleveland)

The New Orleans Hornets fought through last season and had a chance, albeit an outside chance, to make the playoffs during the last month of the season. They fell a little short, but it does not mean that they are discouraged. In face, the team took a lot out of the fact that they were able to contend for so long. This season looks to be more promising; they want to get Peja Stojakovic back into the fold after he missed the vast majority of his first season in New Orleans with a back injury. As long as he is fully recovered and healthy, they have added a big piece that they did not have a season ago. The Hornets also made some investments though the free agent market, but nothing big. They want to build around young point guard Chris Paul and emerging big man Tyson Chandler.

Can the team, specifically Chandler and first-round draft pick Julian Wright, show improvement up front while giving the team quality minutes? It's going to be hard to expect Chris Paul to carry such a large load, even though he's shown ability to do it at times. Can Peja stay healthy through the entire season and give them what they had originally expected to get when they signed him as a free-agent before last season? If they can, Stojakovic will provide them a potent weapon that can hit big shots from all over the court.

Projected Starting Lineup ('06-'07 Stats)
PG: Chris Paul (64 games, 17.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 8.9 apg)
SG: Morris Peterson (w/Toronto: 71 games, 8.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.7 apg)
SF: Peja Stojakovic (13 games, 17.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.8 apg)
PF: David West (52 games, 18.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.2 apg)
C: Tyson Chandler (73 games, 9.5 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 0.9 apg)