No not Anthony Davis with pick number one. They’re good rebuilding from the rubble left behind by CP3 with the freakishly athletic big man out of Kentucky. That selection is already in the hands of David Stern while AD gets fitted for his new suit.
When New Orleans comes back around to pick again at the 10th overall spot, however, they might rather make a trade instead. According to a post from Shaun Powell on his Twitter account, the Hornets will entertain offers for the 10th pick if a team will also agree to take back the contracts of Trevor Ariza or Emeka Okafor. Powell is a writer for NBA.com and ESPN New York.com
Trevor Ariza is scheduled to make $7.3 million next season and has a player option for $7.7M the year after that. Ariza will most likely pick up that option. Okafor will make an insane $13.5M during the 2012-13 season and a guaranteed $14.5M the following year. I find it hard to imagine somebody would be so interested in pick number 10 that they’d be willing to take on Okafor and his mammoth deal. Ariza at just under $8M for the next two years though? Maybe that’s possible.
Last season Ariza averaged 10.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while playing in, and starting, 41 of the 66. Okafor played in only 27 games, starting all of them, while averaging 9.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest. I don’t blame NO for not wanting to pay him $14M for that anymore either.
At pick number 10, the players who could be available include John Henson, Perry Jones III, Terrance Ross, Tyler Zeller, and Austin Rivers. If somebody can fall in love with one of those guys enough to take on either of those players, the Hornets could have a deal. If not, they’ll have to live with walking out on June 28th with Anthony Davis.
Even if that means his locker will be next to Okafor’s for two more seasons.
