DRAFT PICKS: The Hornets selected Kansas forward Darrell Arthur with the 27th pick, then traded his draft rights o Portland for cash considerations in a deal negotiated before the draft. They had previously traded away their second-round pick.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Point guard Chris Paul was runner-up in the MVP voting after averaging 21 points, 11 assists and 2.7 steals. His numbers went up in the postseason, but none of the numbers, regular season or post season, measured how much his will and determination elevated his team to unexpected heights. MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Second-year center Hilton Armstrong, a former No. 1 draft choice, did not develop into the consistent backup to Tyson Chandler that the Hornets had envisioned. He remained inconsistent offensively, outmanned defensively, and extremely foul prone. He periodically vanished from the rotation despite the lack of any better alternative behind Chandler.
BIGGEST NEEDS: The Hornets will be looking for a dependable backup to center Tyson Chandler and a backup big guard. It would also help if they could find a perimeter player who can penetrate.
BIGGEST NEEDS: The Hornets will be looking for an athletic shooting guard/small forward. They're also interested in backups to C Tyson Chandler and point guard Chris Paul.
FREE AGENT FOCUS: Three reserves -- G/F Bonzi Wells, C Chris Andersen, and F Ryan Bowen -- will be unrestricted free agents July 1. Reserve G Jannero Pargo plans to opt out of his contract July 1. Reserve C Melvin Ely can opt out of the final year of his contract.
PLAYER NOTES:
--All-Star point guard Chris Paul was named to the U.S. team that will compete in the Beijing Olympics. Coach Byron Scott called Paul to congratulate him, though he admitted to having mixed feelings. He said he'll have to monitor Paul's minutes early in the season because of Paul's added workload during the summer.
--Reserve swingman Rasual Butler faces weapons charges stemming from an incident outside a Miami nightclub. Head coach Byron Scott and general manager Jeff Bower have reserved substantial comment on Butler's future pending further acquisition of facts about the incident.
--Byron Scott said he's waiting to hear whether reserve F/C Melvin Ely will opt out of his contract. Scott said it's unlikely the team will have room for both Ely and reserve F/C Chris Andersen, who is an unrestricted free agent.
