Incompetence in "The Big Easy"

[huzy]

The mismanagement of personnel decisions in New Orleans is a tragedy.

It would be laughable if the existence of professional basketball in NO wasn't on the brink of extinction.

The New Orleans Hornets have decided to take center Chris Kaman off the trade market and are bringing him back to the team, according to sources close to the situation.


The league-owned Hornets deactivated Kaman last week and told the former All-Star on Friday that he could wait at home while team officials tried to find a new trade home for him.

But after discussions with numerous teams, sources said, New Orleans has decided to end those talks and recall Kaman, though it wasn't immediately clear what sort of role he'll have after Hornets coach Monty Williams announced last week that getting minutes for young players such as Jason Smith, Al-Farouq Aminu and Gustavo Ayon was the staff's priority.

What do you expect when you announce that you've asked a player not to return to the team while you work out a trade? They absolutely killed any leverage in negotiating a strong deal.

The Paul situation was a debacle and this further demonstrates that NOH management is either clueless or has been so strapped by the league ownership that they're victims of conflicting priorities.

Kaman is a player who has spent his whole career on the trading block. If his approach to the game or personality even slightly warranted this situation, I'm unaware of it.

It's too bad. As a solid starting caliber Center, what a waste of a scarce and valuable commodity.     

[Lucky17]

As I indicated in the other thread devoted to Kaman, NOH/league officials were asking too much from teams interested in Kaman's services.

If NOH could have gotten Hasheem Thabeet and Jordan Hill from Houston, they should have taken that kind of package. Zero risk for the Hornets, plus they would have reduced payroll even further. Win-win.

[nickagneta]

My guess is they wanted a matching expiring contract and a draft pick and no one was willing to give them that. So, he's off the market until some contending team's center gets hurt or is playing so horribly that come the deadline, that team will be willing to play that pick and accommodate the Hornets with equally expiring contracts.

[huzy]

If NOH could have gotten Hasheem Thabeet and Jordan Hill from Houston, they should have taken that kind of package. Zero risk for the Hornets, plus they would have reduced payroll even further. Win-win.

Was this a rumored proposed deal? If so, it would have absolutely been a win-win.

If you came up with this proposal yourself, TP Lucky.

[Lucky17]

Rumor based out of a NO newspaper:

http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ssf/2012/02/teams_starting_to_show_interes.html

"According to the website, talks have revolved around two of Houston’s young players who were top 10 picks in the 2009 draft, center Hasheem Thabeet and power forward Jordan Hill. Thabeet was the second overall pick that year by Memphis; Hill was the eighth overall choice by the Knicks.

The magazine also said second-year forward Patrick Patterson and third-year point guard Jonny Flynn were discussed, along with Terrence Williams, a small forward."

Upon review, it sounds like Houston wasn't offering this, but that the Hornets were asking for this.

[guava_wrench]

No where near as bad as Bird's dealings with Tinsley. Those were epic.

[nicknorman]

I just think that the timing was horrible.  Teams that wanted bigs weren't going to trade a pick and good player, when there were some bigs coming into the league late like Priz and Martin.

They should have waited a month

[Who]

I don't mind their handling of the situation.

The Hornets were quick and efficient in their handling of trade negotiations. Unfortunately, they went nowhere so they ended this limbo period as quickly as possible to avoid unsettling anyone further.

The Hornets seemed to be clear and communicative with the player at all times. They had an asking price and were willing to move Kaman if anyone met it. If they didn't, he wouldn't go anywhere. He knew where he stood at all times.

I'm sure Kaman -- who was open to being traded and hoping to join a superior team to the Hornets -- was content with the club's stance and handling of trade negotiations. That they had a certain value of him both as a player and as a trade asset. If nobody met their asking price, he had too much value as a player to let go.

I don't think this will cause any problems for Kaman or the team as a whole. I thought they handled the whole episode reasonably well. Quick and efficient. Clear communication with the player.