The city of New Orleans caught a rare break on Wednesday evening. In a place riddled by murder, inadequate public education and general blight, the redeeming nature of sports put everything else on hold if but for a moment when the Hornets won the draft lottery and the right to select Kentucky's Anthony Davis. The franchise that saw Chris Paul leave via trade and David West sign with the Pacers within the last year has the chance to build a foundation for success heading forward thanks to the pairing of a legitimate big man and a healthy Eric Gordon. With the addition of new owner and New Orleans businessman Tom Benson to rehabilitate the general health of the franchise, the future is surely bright for basketball in the Crescent City.
- The Hornets' draft lottery victory continues the streak of the team with the worst record failing to secure the top pick in the draft going back to Orlando selecting Dwight Howard in 2004, writes the Associated Press (via The Times-Picayune).
- Davis has experience dominating in New Orleans at the highest level of collegiate basketball, writes Ted Lewis of The Times-Picayune, as the former Kentucky star led his team to the NCAA title in the Big Easy less than two months ago. "Anthony Davis is one of the best we've ever had, " said Joe B. Hall, who coached Kentucky to the 1978 title and has been part of the program since 1965. "He's demonstrated great defense and he's been a tremendous teammate who always played with a great attitude.
- Hornets head coach Monty Williams has a few ideas in mind for what the team should do with the tenth pick in the draft, tweets Hornets.com's Jim Eichenhofer.
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