First new Hornets owner Tom Benson locked up coach Monty Williams with a multi-year deal. Now the Hornets have locked up general manager Dell Demps to keep their core in place. Smart move, Mr. Benson.
The Hornets have agreed to a multi-year contract extension with Demps, the team announced Friday. (We’re still trying to find out the terms of the deal, we’ll let you know when we do.)
“Dell has a bright future ahead as the GM of our team and Mr. Benson and I couldn’t be more impressed with the track this team is on and are excited about the future,” said Hornets Executive Vice President Mickey Loomis in a released statement. “He has helped shape this organization with the current team of young, talented players and we look forward to seeing the growth of the franchise during this exciting time for the franchise.”
He’s not universally loved among Hornets fans (what GM is?) but Demps has made the Hornets better. Bottom line. He’s smart, well respected around the league and with the team headed in the right direction you don’t break things up.
Demps lucked into the top pick and getting Anthony Davis, but everybody needs a little luck now and again. He’s made smart trades to bring in Ryan Anderson and Robin Lopez to give the Hornets some veterans and consistent bigs to go around Davis. He drafted Austin Rivers, the book is still out on that rookie.
The area of controversy has been the max extension last summer for Eric Gordon. After coming to the Big Easy as part of the Chris Paul trade, Gordon played nine games last season due to a knee injury but still got the four-year, $58 million deal. Davis has angered New Orleans fans by having asked the Hornets not to match the Phoenix Suns’ offer this summer (they Hornets did anyway) and by not playing yet this year due to a knee issue. Even though Hornets doctors have suggested its not structural. Currently Gordon is back in Los Angeles trying to rehab his knee.
We’ll see how the Gordon situation plays out — he could be a key to this team going forward if he gets back on the court. But he has a lot of good will to build up in a community that feels he turned on them.
Despite all that, signing Gordon and not letting a potential key franchise piece walk away for nothing was the right move. Demps has made smart plays all the way around the block and the Hornets made the smart play by locking him up.
