This summer and early fall produced a lot of shakeups in the NBA that I most likely don’t need to go into.
 
We all know the stories of the overhyped and sometimes disgruntled superstars moving from one city to another while trying to get their pals to tag along. There was almost one more story added to that list that would have left New Orleans in a wake of tears.
 
It was reported this summer Hornets star point guard Chris Paul was unhappy with the team and its direction. He wanted out.
 
And to be honest, I wanted him gone, too. If he didn’t want to be in New Orleans, so be it. Let him go, get some talent for him before his contract expires in a few years and move on.
 
Obviously, it’s an outrageous assertion on my part to think it would be a good thing for Paul to leave the team. Paul is one of the top three point guards in the game when he is healthy, as shown by his numbers last season before his knee injury (20.4 points, 11.2 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game).
 
But at the time, I was upset. I felt, in a sense, betrayed. I’m a huge Hornets fan. As all of us know, fans get comfortable with what they have. We never think that one day our superstar will leave, so when rumors swirl that perhaps that fatal day is near, we overreact.
 
For you Saints fans, just think if Drew Brees were to leave before his contract expires. It makes you shudder deep inside, doesn’t it?
 
Well, that’s how I felt when the news of Paul came around this summer.
 
But things have changed since then. Now, just as much as Paul is claiming to love New Orleans (and I believe him) and that he wants to stay (I kind of believe that), I am back in my state of bliss knowing Paul is around for the time being.
 
How did general manager Dell Demps get that to happen? It’s simple.
 
To appease Paul, the Hornets had a large shakeup of their own. And “large” is probably an understatement.
 
A mere six Hornets on this year’s roster remain from last year’s team: Paul, centers Aaron Gray and Emeka Okafor, guard Marcus Thornton and forwards David West and Peja Stojakovic.
 
This team is a skeleton of its old self that produced a lackluster 37-45 record last year, and that’s what has me so excited for this year’s squad.
 
It all starts at the top, as the Hornets have the youngest head coach in the league. At 39 years old, Monty Williams is going to bring passion (and hopefully a little bit of a defensive mentality) back to New Orleans.
 
Then it moves down to a couple of new starters in strong forward Trevor Ariza, who has championship experience with the Los Angeles Lakers, and shooting guard Marco Belinelli.
 
Belinelli will provide the Hornets with a solid 3-point dimension to the offense, while Ariza will provide speed, athleticism, decent defense and great all-around shooting.
 
The Hornets have also made moves to strengthen their bench, adding backup point guard Jerryd Bayless, backup shooting guard Willie Green and a couple new centers (including the best name on the team, Pops Mensah-Bonsu).
 
This is a young team — only one player, David West, is older than 29  — that may make some mistakes. But the Hornets will once again be fun to watch. Look for the Hornets to make an appearance back in the playoffs this year as the No. 8 seed against the Lakers.
 
And if you want my early Finals prediction, I’m taking the Oklahoma Thunder (yes, the Thunder) over the Boston Celtics. Just going out on a limb there. But as long as the Miami Heat don’t win I’ll be happy once again.
 
Andy Schwehm is a 21-year-old English and psychology senior from New Orleans. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_ASchwehm.
 
 
 
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Contact Andy Schwehm at [email protected]