That should be no great surprise. The only chance that Scott wouldn't return is if the Kings were suddenly willing to step in and take Scott off the Hornets hands. My guess is we have a better chance of finding a snowflake in front of the Superdome on a toasty May day.

Where did all the chatter about Scott come from in recent days? From his agent, of course, who was doing what agents do. The agent was trying to make a market for Scott, with either a new deal in Sacramento or a contract extension in New Orleans.

Here's the reality for the 2008 NBA Coach of the Year. If the Hornets return to prominence next season, Scott will be in position to land a lucrative extension with the Hornets or a giant payday elsewhere.

My guess is this: Hornets owner George Shinn and Scott will meet (or have already met) and hashed out this past season. Shinn wants to know what happened on a Monday night at the Arena when he was embarrassed by a 58 point drubbing by Denver. He will want to know why a part of that humiliation was handed out by J.R. Smith and Chris Andersen, both former Hornets employees.

Shinn will want to know why he is in luxury tax jail, why he doesn't have any good young players on his bench.

All legitimate questions.

The big issue for the Hornets this offseason is do you trade David West? I heard a lot of complaining about West in the first round debacle against Denver. Here's my take on West: don't deal him. He is in the prime of his career, his salary actually descends in the coming years, and he averages 21 points and 8 rebounds a game. He shoots 47 percent from the field, and 88 percent from the free throw line.

However, to get, say the Phoenix Suns to take Tyson Chandler, you may have to deal David West.

The Hornets are in a bind this offseason. Their best option would be to somehow ship Chandler, and another veteran (Antonio Daniels, Morris Peterson, James Posey?) to Phoenix for Shaq.

You would be still be over the luxury tax, but sell out the building for the season. And, at year's end, Shaq's expiring contract and $20 million goes off the books.

But, if you are the Suns, why make that deal?

The late Saints general manager Jim Finks often said about trades, "the ones you don't make are often best."

That was before he dealt first, second, and third round picks to the Dallas Cowboys for weak armed quarterback Steve Walsh.

In the meantime, George Shinn has a summer full of potential maladies. He's over the luxury tax, he's not totally enamored with his coach, and he has to make sure he continues to sell tickets in a bum economy.

By George, that is a quandry.

Comments (6)

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written by Jimmy, May 06, 2009

What false premise? I don't read where he says Scott had full control of personnel, only that Shinn has questions. He says Scott is returning and he should. That said, you have to be kidding if you think he didn't have major input into personnel. Scott isn't the big problem--Bower is. His record of signings, non-signings, bad draft picks and bad contracts speaks for itself.

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written by NJ Hornet, May 05, 2009

Everyone who's name isn't chris paul of ju ju should be gone!

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written by harvey , May 05, 2009

The answer is easy BYRON SCOTT. Scott, like Payton, controls personnel decision. I hope Shinn replaces Bower with a real GM.

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written by johnob, May 05, 2009

Interesting article, but based on a false premise... that Scott had full control over player personnel...which he didn't.
You paint Shinn as the unknowing unsuspecting owner that didn't know why he was signing checks...sounds like the excuse all big business owners use when they direct employees in the wrong direction. Not to mention the G.M. is in charge of player personnel...Not to mention trying to off your "star" center late in the season to go under the salary cap shows no interest by Shinn or his G.M.in winning anything this season...do you suppose the players picked up on that? Who thru in the towel first? Upper management, and why...because they have a lot of injured starters and a bad bench. Not much Scott could do with that scenario.

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written by Bluetooth, May 05, 2009

Steve Walsh--now there's a name! What a joke of a deal that was for the Saints. Scott helped contribute to the financial problems by wanting all these veterans and doing nothing with young players, except for Chris Paul. Can you name me one more young player that he has developed?

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written by Jon, May 05, 2009

Great article Ed! Unfortunately, the Hornets have put themselves in this position due to all the bad moves they've made the past few years. The Hornets never seemed to watch the bottom line with any of these moves, and now it has come back to haunt them. I don't blame Shinn for not wanting to pay the luxury tax for a team that won't win an NBA Title. Unfortunately, this should have been seen last offseason when they signed Posey, bc that put us over the tax. Revisionist history though!

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