<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">As part of the largest trade in NBA history, the Hornets obtained small forward Rasual Butler from Miami and shooting guard Kirk Snyder from Utah on Tuesday night in a five-team swap in which the Hornets sent the rights for Spanish center Roberto Duenas to the Heat. In all, a record 13 players went to five teams. The Hornets had acquired Duenas' rights in June 2001 from the Chicago Bulls for the 45th pick in the 2001 draft. Duenas was drafted by the Bulls with the 58th pick of the 1997 draft. He has never played in the NBA. The biggest part of the multiteam megaswap is Boston's Antoine Walker going to the Heat. Miami also obtained Jason Williams, James Posey and Andre Emmitt from Memphis, and traded Eddie Jones to Memphis. Memphis receives Raul Lopez from Utah. Utah received Greg Ostertag from Memphis, and the Celtics obtained Curtis Borchardt from Utah and Qyntel Woods, the rights to Spanish center Albert Miralles, two second-round draft picks and future considerations from the Heat. Essentially the Hornets obtained two more young players for nothing, finalizing their preseason roster in the process and making the team more athletic and positionally flexible. Tuesday night's deal also virtually ensures that there is no room for popular point guard Dan Dickau, who is an unrestricted free agent and had hoped to re-sign in New Orleans. "Now we've got 14 guaranteed contracts," General Manager Allan Bristow said Tuesday night, "so I don't see us doing any more moving in the near future. I look at it this way: We've got five young players -- J.R. Smith, Arvydas Macijauskas, Boki Nachbar, Butler and Snyder. That gives us a lot of flexibility at a couple of spots." Tuesday's acquisition of Butler, who fills a need for depth at small forward, and Snyder is a result of salary-cap room created by the trading of guard Baron Davis and forward Jamal Mashburn last February. "This was something where we could pick up a couple of young players we were high on, having traded the bigger contracts," Bristow said. </div> Source
This was one of my first thoughts when i saw the finalized deals. I mean, everyone was whooping and hollering over the fact that the Heat got some good players but for strictly what they gave up the Hornets did very well in the deal. Butler is a very good shooter and was agood scorer in college, and Snyder has some potential to be a very solid player in the league. Even if they don't contribute a whole lot, and contribution from them would make this a really good deal for the hornets considering what they gave up to obtain them.
Two young players that show some potential for Roberto Duenas, who hasn't played one NBA minute yet. Good move on the Hornets part. With a young small forward core of JR Smith, Snyder, and Butler it will be interesting to see who gets the minutes.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting C.K.:</div><div class="quote_post">With a young small forward core of JR Smith, Snyder, and Butler it will be interesting to see who gets the minutes.</div> JR Smith is a SG. He'll never start at SF in the NBA. He's too small. The real competition is Snyder, Butler and Nachbar. All 3 are different players. I believe Butler will start off with the job because he can shoot and defend better than both of them. Nachbar fits in more on the offensive end because he can run and gun with Paul and Smith however, I think Scott would prefer Butler there. Snyder will ultimately IMO be better than both of them, but right now he needs to mature. He will get PT and it will increase as the year goes on. He'll be the starter by seasons end if he doesn't suffer an injury or does something stupid.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Banks:</div><div class="quote_post">JR Smith is a SG. He'll never start at SF in the NBA. He's too small. The real competition is Snyder, Butler and Nachbar. All 3 are different players. I believe Butler will start off with the job because he can shoot and defend better than both of them. Nachbar fits in more on the offensive end because he can run and gun with Paul and Smith however, I think Scott would prefer Butler there. Snyder will ultimately IMO be better than both of them, but right now he needs to mature. He will get PT and it will increase as the year goes on. He'll be the starter by seasons end if he doesn't suffer an injury or does something stupid.</div> While Smith isn't a real SF, he will be forced to play SF this season, because the European guy they signed will be the starting SG and Smith will be moved over to SF.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bobcats:</div><div class="quote_post">While Smith isn't a real SF, he will be forced to play SF this season, because the European guy they signed will be the starting SG and Smith will be moved over to SF.</div> Yeah I just read that. Either way, it's stupid starting him at the SF because he's too small and weak to guard 3's or 2's in the NBA. Although he's listed as 6'6, he's more like 6'4.5". Arvydas Macijauskas isn't known for his defense so that's a pretty weak 2-3 spot right there. I don't expect both of them to start though, despite the reports.
Ya this was really a good move by the Hornets Butler is a lights out shooter that will help you guys alot, and acquiring Snyder was also a good move.
yeah i never realized it before but the hornets did a great job acquiring some young talent for practically nothing...butler can shoot and snyder is athletic and can score some...they're definitely some nice pieces for the future...
I think I'll throw the Hornets a bone on this one. Comparatively speaking, they did pretty darn well in the deal. But let's take it out of context for a moment. Rasual Butler and Kirk Snyder. Let's face facts, this here is small potatoes. Will they ever make impact enough to get this team to the playoffs? No. Will they push them over the edge and make them champions? God no. I guess I have to question the direction of the Hornets franchise right now. I think everyone does. They really don't have anything to work with, no money, no players, and a less than notable coach. Not to mention inept management. This isn't me hating on the Hornets, I think they've gotten themselves a bum rap in years past. But this is moving into the ridiculous now. Somebody needs to do something and fast.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Banks:</div><div class="quote_post">JR Smith is a SG. He'll never start at SF in the NBA. He's too small.</div> he is 6'6", thats plenty. VC was SF, so was bonzi wells, so is Mason for the bucks.All three are great players.
Word is that Snyder is a locker room cancer, which would explain why Utah would let go of Borchardt and Snyder in exchange for Greg Ostertag..
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ignignot:</div><div class="quote_post">I guess I have to question the direction of the Hornets franchise right now. I think everyone does. They really don't have anything to work with, no money, no players, and a less than notable coach. Not to mention inept management.</div> I think there's a word you need to look up... You know, it's what teams do when they get in a funk. They scrap all their big contracts and sign young lesser known players. It's called 'rebuilding'. I think the Hornets are moving in the right direction. No players? They drafted Chris Paul. He's a superstar in the making. They have a promising young player in J.R. Smith. They still have a pretty good foundation for their frontline in Magloire and PJ Brown. Yes PJ is getting old and they do need to look to replace him in the future, but he's still a capable starter in this league. So yes, the Hornets are not completely lost in that department. I wouldn't quite put them in the same category as the Hawks quite yet (the Hawks that we've seen the past several years). No notable coach? You think Tim Floyd is still the coach of the Hornets? Byron Scott would be the guy and I do believe people know who he is. Didn't the Nets make the Finals under him in consecutive years? Don't come back and shoot any nonsense on how he ran that team. The point is he was the coach of the Nets during that span and that makes him notable. And the Hornets did try to lure a few free agents. Bobby Simmons was on their radar, but he chose Milwaukee instead. They even showed interest in Stromile Swift. But the fact is, there is nothing they can do to improve the team FAST as you said. They are in a rebuilding mode and all they have to look forward to are future lottery picks. They're in the same situation as the Hawks and Bobcats are right now. C Magloire / Andersen / Vroman PF Brown / West SF Butler / Nachbar SG Smith / Macijauskas / Snyder PG Paul / Claxton Reserves - Lynch, Lampe, Bass (I don't think Macijauskas will start right away like most people assume. Ginobili didn't start right away for the Spurs did he?) You're right, not a playoff roster by any means. But it's definitely a roster with several young promising players. It looks to me as if they're moving in the right direction. They are a few years away from making the playoffs. They need another promising draft pick or two plus a key free agent signing, and this team can be back in playoff contention.
