Hornets (feels good to say that) hire Steve Clifford as coach

[Carl Spackler]

The Lakers not winning greatly lowers the chance of Howard resigning with the Lakers.

[Zaximus]

I want a star to realize they can go to a team like this and become legendary and forever the face of the franchise.  I know it may not be as big of endorsements, etc, but Cam seems to be doing pretty well in that regard playing in the QC.   I mean, my God, people still bring up LJ and Zo from the 90's as if they won multiple titles, just imagine if Howard, or CP3, or both came here?  They'd probably get statues lol. 

[chknwing]

ok so why are we hearing this from "sources"  Cant they call a press conference like normal teams. Hype him up, something. anything.

[Proudiddy]

More Clifford love...  CANNNN YOUUUUUU DIGGGGGGG ITTTTTTT???

 

Rick Bonnell: Tom Thibodeau texted Stan Van Gundy "This is a great day for all of us" regarding Bobcats hiring Steve Clifford. Twitter @rick_bonnell

 

Rick Bonnell: Stan Van Gundy told me Clifford was ready to be NBA coach before Stan hired him. Much more in tomorrow's Observer. Twitter @rick_bonnell

 

Marcin Gortat: Congrats to steve clifford !!!! great guy and even a better coach. ! Bobcats gonna look strong this year! Twitter @MGortat

Thibs getting in on it and that is certainly an impressive quote from Gortat.

 

[Jakob]

I thought I had already put my 2 cents in but I guess I was remembering wrong. Anyways, I like the hire, Clifford is not the hire I wanted but the coach we need.

 

if things go as planned he could make us a playoff team in 2-3 years.

 

Notice I said IF

[PantherAZ]

Any of you guys who think the Hornets are going to have a legitimate shot to sign Howard need to step back and take few deep breaths. Never going to happen. Why would it happen?

I don't think anyone thinks its going to happen, but I'd like the Hornets to make a phone call. If they make the call, I give it 0.5% chance (0.75% if we add Ewing to the staff). If they don't make the call its 0%.

[PantherAZ]

Chris Paul is going to be one of those players that will ALWAYS be rumored as a potential Hornets FA target/landing spot. Doubt it ever happens. Maybe in like 10-12 years when he is about to retire and comes here for one season. Howard is not going to sign here, either. Why would he? He is in the prime of his career and I doubt he would want to waste his good years being a babysitter to an awful team that is a still 2-3 years away from seriously competing for the 7/8 playoff spot. I'd be willing to bet both of those players resign with their current teams. I could see Howard leaving but my money is on him resigning with the Lakers.

I love your optimism bro, and I am much more excited about the franchise with the Hornets name coming back to where it belongs, too. I also know Higgins said they are going spend money this off season and sign a max level contract player. He said that in a very sneaky, almost deceitful way. What he really meant is he is going to sign a player to a max level offer/contract, which also means they are going to sign a mid level/up and coming player to a max contract. Not an elite player like Paul or Howard to a max level contract.

This is all true, but IF we were to sign Howard and Paul we would not be 2-3 years away. We would immediately be contenders. Paul w

[PantherAZ]

Sorry, posting from my phone..

This is all true, but IF we were to sign Howard and Paul we would not be 2-3 years away. We would immediately be contenders. Paul won't happen, he's staying in LA. The clippers fired del ***** to ensure that. Howard is very unlikely, but apparently has a very good relationship with Clifford and Ewing. Also how many nba players are going to easily say no to Michael Jordan? I get the feeling that MJ has been an absentee owner to this point, but it feels like he's tired of the critism and losing money. If he gets involved, his name alone has to help.

[4Corners]

The odds of the Hornets signing CP3 or Howard are probably slightly better than me heading up to 7/11 and purchasing a scratch off that wins me 50k.

[Chaos]

More Clifford love...  CANNNN YOUUUUUU DIGGGGGGG ITTTTTTT???

 

 

Thibs getting in on it and that is certainly an impressive quote from Gortat.

 

Gortat must have forgotten that we have no scoring threats to make us a strong team.  As of now, anyway.

[CarolinaNCSU]

Howard would be taking a drastic pay cut to come here.  No taxes if he goes to Houston/Dallas, gets an extra year on his contract in LA.  Not to mention, he's a giant risk to give a contract to right now and the biggest diva around.  He's a shell of the player he was a couple years ago when he was arguably the 2nd or 3rd best guy in the league. 

 

The chance of ANY big name free agent coming here is laughably small, until the team gets more talent.  Even if CP3 and Howard BOTH came...they still may not even be contenders.  Both guys have nagging injuries and as serious as CP3 takes the game, he would MURDER Howard.  Part of the reason CP3 and Blake feuded was Blake just wanting to have fun.  

 

I can't wait until the Hornets are contenders...but it won't be happening until they land a Durant type guy in the draft AND add more talent.  Kemba and MKG are nice starts.  But they're not even comparable to say Westbrook and Harden, who had Durant and Ibaka as well and came up short of a title last year.  Kemba and MKG are the only 2 guys on this roster that would be starting on a playoff team right now.  And that's not even a sure thing.  Adding a big name FA or even 2 won't make this team a contender. 

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I'm really starting to like this hire, it's clear that he has built strong relationships with players which might really help us in free agent.

[teeray]

With Kemba on the roster plus him being on a rookie contract I doubt we even persue CP3.

CP3 is a great player but I don't see the upgrade over value ratio that would make sense

[Zaximus]

With Kemba on the roster plus him being on a rookie contract I doubt we even persue CP3.

CP3 is a great player but I don't see the upgrade over value ratio that would make sense

 

CP3 is way better than Kemba, and he always will be.  That's just how it is.  A lot of experts think Kemba would be better off the bench anyway as a high energy guy.