In our instant world — where we can download almost any song ever written in seconds, where even our oatmeal is instant — we don’t like to wait for things. If it takes more than three clicks I’m frustrated.
But building an NBA team to contention is an exercise in patience. Well, except in Miami. But that’s the exception, usually teams are built more like Oklahoma City — draft well, make some trades and try to bring together a team that will grow into a contender.
That is what’s happening in New Orleans. That is what this draft and getting Anthony Davis means in the Big Easy — the Hornets are not going to be good next season, but there is a path to future contender laid out now. The foundation is there.
The hardest thing to acquire in building a contender is the franchise player. There just are not a lot of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant kind of guys out there. Bobcats general manager Rich Cho says with his rating system he thinks there are fewer than 10 true franchise guys in the NBA right now.
Anthony Davis could be one of those guys.
You never know with a draft pick, there’s always risk, but Davis has graded out with scouts as well as anybody coming out of college in years. He is long, athletic, thinks defense first, is efficient on offense (he had the highest PER in college last year) and he has a good work ethic. He could be the franchise anchor that gives New Orleans a defensive stopper and a rebounder, plus he can score and his offensive game will improve.
New Orleans also has Eric Gordon, probably the best young two-guard in the game. He came to them as part of the Chris Paul trade and if you forgot how good he is remember how important he became for Team USA at the FIBA World Championships in Turkey. That was Durant’s team, but Gordon’s role really grew through the tournament.
After this draft (also with the No. 10 pick) the Hornets will have a core of players they can start to build around. They have a coach in Monty Williams who last season got a weak roster to play hard, defend and get the most out of what they have. They have a very smart GM in Dell Demps.
The Hornets will come out of this draft with the foundation of a future contender. It’s a long way to go to get there, but New Orleans has the path to the title.
And that is a great place to be as a fan, if you can just be patient.