Yes, the 2007-2008 New Orleans Hornets provided a tremendous boost for a lagging economy and filled a hole in the local sports market in huge fashion. In the process, the Hornets became a viable entity in this community with the promise of a potentially prosperous future.

 

Of course, that will be incumbent upon the state of Louisiana meeting the wishes of George Shinn, who wants a long-term agreement to ensure the future of his franchise and to erase any lingering doubts about the team's ultimate destination. The current Hornets' deal with Louisiana, which was extended in January, runs through 2014. The attendance benchmarks set in place midway through the season are clearly going to be met and season ticket sales are increasing dramatically for next season, all good signs.

Even with the wonderful second half of the season at the box office, Shinn says the Hornets will break even, at best, for the 2007-2008 season. A season ticket-base of around 10,000 and increased sponsorships will be the panacea to put this team in the black on a permanent basis. It will be needed. Shinn must step up to the plate to get a max contract for Chris Paul to keep him here. Additionally, he will have to ante up in dramatic fashion to retain the solid services of Head Coach Byron Scott, who makes a modest $4.2 million a year and has just an option year remaining on his current deal. He has become a hot commodity that could and would attract interest from other franchises.

 

The other off-season decisions involve which players to keep and which players to let walk. 

 

Of those whose contracts are pending, reserves Bonzi Wells, Ryan Bowen, Chris Anderson, Jannero Pargo, and Melvin Ely must be addressed.  Wells, Bowen, and Anderson become unrestricted free agents on July 1 while Pargo can opt out of the final year of his contract and become a free agent. Wells will be entering his tenth season. After providing toughness and scoring off the bench during the regular season, Wells faded badly following a solid fourth quarter in game one of the Spurs' series. He was brought in to provide experience and stability in the post-season. He did anything but this against San Antonio. As a result, his future is in doubt. Is he worth the $2.2 million salary he made this past season? Is he a player in decline? Is he too short to play forward at 6'5?

Bowen is cost-effective. There may be a place at the end of the bench for him. He is a team player who doesn't look to shoot or score, a hustle-type who gets floor burns, fouls, and battles for rebounds and on defense. Of course, if he left, it would not be a significant loss. Anderson is a question mark. How much game does he still have? Considering the plight of the backup center position in New Orleans, he may be given a shot to stay here. Byron Scott likes him. Had he not been out of the game for two years, he would have been given a real shot at playing this past season.

 

In the case of Pargo, he is not a pure point guard. He is a shoot first, ask questions later guy. Still, he provides a spark and instant offense at times. You simply have to accept the poor shot selection and cold streaks that go with the good times. I don't know that Pargo could go anywhere and have the kind of freedom and success he is enjoying in New Orleans. It is a pretty good bet that he will return to New Orleans. If Ely chooses to opt out, it will be no loss to the Hornets.

 

Moving forward, barring any unforeseen developments, the future looks very bright. Paul, All-Star David West, and Tyson Chandler provide a terrific nucleus. Julian Wright has tremendous upside with a chance to be a high-level player. Peja Stojakovic proved that he could stay healthy for an entire season and provide deadly perimeter shooting.

 

While New Orleans will always be a Saints-first, perhaps LSU-second town, the Hornets have moved into a strong third position with a bullet, borrowing a Billboard magazine term. That's what happens with excellence in the form of a division title (the first), 26 road wins (most ever), 56 overall wins (most ever), a Coach of the Year (Byron Scott), a first-team All-Pro who is second in the Most Valuable Player voting (Chris Paul), and a second All-Star (David West). When it comes to the future of teal and gold, let the good times roll! That is not a bold destination at all.