In The N.O. - A New Orleans Pelicans Pod

In this episode, we talk about the Robin Lopez and Hakim Warrick acquisition, what that means for starting line-ups and Anthony Davis.  Oh, and I was poetic about the beauty that is Ryan Anderson.

Sorry the podcast was late!  I would blame Star Wars: The Old Republic, but that would be lame of me. Hope you enjoy the podcast!  We recorded it Sunday night, so no discussion of the off-on Lopez trade.  That will come this Sunday.  Instead, we talk about the moves Demps did, and wonder if we could have improved on them.

Davis takes the court for Team USA, Gordon comes back for the Max, and Austin Rivers tries his hand as a point guard for the first time.  Lots to talk about. HOWEVER!  If you like this podcast, please, please go to this link and do Hornets247.com a favor.  Fill out the survey so we can get ourselves a podcast sponsor and bring even more of the coverage you all enjoy. So, Go!  http://www.wizzard.tv/survey/hornets247 Thanks.

Some momentous events this week as Al-Farouq Aminu led Nigeria to the Olympics!  Oh, and the Hornets sign and traded for some quasi-all-star Ryan Anderson.  And Eric Gordon said things that made people mad. Really mad. We talk about it all!

Free Agency started today and Michael and I talk Eric Gordon, the trade rumors around him, and then address all the other potential free agents that are floating out around there.  Plus . . . Batum?!?  For that much?  Really?

D(avis) Day is here!  Michael and I recap the draft, argue about Austin Rivers for entirely too much time, talk about Darius Miller, and then try to figure out what this draft means for players like Belinelli, Aminu and Henry, and debate the potency of the Hornets backcourt.

Michael and I present to you our Big Boards - the prospects as we see them - and fully expect mountains of vitriol to be heaped upon us.  You hear us Lillardians?  We are not afraid of you!!! We close with a few potential trades that seem to be out there (Deng or Noah or Houston's picks) and give some thoughts on the the type of free agents we'd like to see brought in based on players taken in the draft at 10. 3 more days!

Michael and I talk about the big trade that sent Okafor and Ariza to the Wizards and what it means for the Hornets, short and long term, and if it impacts their draft at all. Exciting times in the NO.

Michael and I talk about trades involving the tenth pick.   What we want in return for it, what picks we could get for players like J-Smitty and Ayon, and what sort of players will be available later in the first round.   8 Days until the draft!

Michael and I are joined by Mike Schmitz of DratExpress.com and ESPN Truehoop's Valley of the Suns to talk about the prospects the Hornets could be picking at number 10.  if you haven't seen his work - go check it out. Then, afterwards, we discuss Michael's suggestion of CP3 returning - who to try and cherry pick from the Thunder, and then Michael starts a new game, "What scares you most!?"  It may be as lame as you think it is.

Michael and I talk about how the front office won't say they are taking Anthony Davis - and then we talk about all the people they could possibly take at 10.  Michael gets heated about Kendall Marshall and Austin Rivers, and I still have a man-crush on Sullinger but have a a few other guys I wouldn't mind seeing in creole blue.

Michael and I react giddily to the news the Hornets won the first pick of the NBA Draft and the rights to draft Anthony Davis out of Kentucky.  He's a Gamechanger, folks.  We talk all kinds of impacts. New Owners, New Star, possible new Name.  Pack the hive and show the rest of the NBA how its done.  525-hoop.  I'm betting those season tickets are going fast.

Ryan and Michael talk Eric Gordon.  Lots of Eric Gordon.  They talk his trade value, his injury history and what it might mean, they trade him, they don't trade him, he signs for millions or just the qualifying offer.  They try to predict where he'll be next year.  If Eric Gordon is on your mind, this is the place to be.

Special Guest David Thorpe - NBA trainer, coach, and writer from ESPN.com - joins Michael and I to talk the young players on this team - what they need to do to grow, what they should and can focus on, and talks other young guys in the draft.  He also seems to proscribe a trip to France to lose weight and weighs in on Eric Gordon. This one is a good one guys.

With a good eight members of the fourteen lottery slots in this comnig draft likely to be filled by players from Kentucky and UNC, Michael arranged for bloggers covering those teams to come on and walk us through each of those potential lottery picks and their strengths and weaknesses. Our first guest is Glenn Logan of www.aseaofblue.com, who adresses all our questions about the unibrow, Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrance Jones and Marquis Teague Our second guest is Brian Barbour of www.tarheelblog.com, who answers questions about Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller, John Henson and Kendall Marshall. It's a monster blog.  Hope you enjoy it!