The Hornets enter the season as one of the league's most intriguing teams, having drafted No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis, re-signed Eric Gordon to a max deal, and pulled off a sign-and-trade for Most Improved Player award-winner Ryan Anderson, among several other moves. Here's what's happening in the Big Easy as the new-look Hornets get ready for their regular season debut.
- Hornets GM Dell Demps was quick to praise the stewardship of commissioner David Stern as he spoke to Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune, despite his refusal to allow Demps to trade Chris Paul to the Lakers last year. Still, Demps is glad for the stability new owner Tom Benson brings. "And even last season, a lot of decisions we were making were based along the lines of you wanted to make the team attractive to a new owner," Demps said. "And so we had some short-term and long-term plans in place last year that really set us up for this year."
- Coach Monty Williams said he's been working with Demps as the team rebuilds, as Smith documents in the same piece. "Dell and I talk a lot about the roster and where do we see ourselves in the future," the coach said. "It's been set up in a way that it gives us even more flexibility next summer to spend some money. Then once we spend that money next summer, I'm thinking 'That's our team.'"
- Anderson signed a four-year, $34MM contract this summer, but the new Hornets sharpshooter has struggled in the preseason, as HoopsWorld's Lang Greene examines.
- Greene also checks in with Brian Roberts, a point guard in Hornets camp with a deal that's partially guaranteed for $100K.