Hornets Offseason: I'd like this one . . . and this one . . . and that one . . .

The Hornets spent $66,079,546 in player payroll last season, and it looks like the Hornets will have some leeway to spend this year - assuming they are willing to spend the same amount they spent this year as they did last year.  The dead contracts of Arvydas Macijauskas, Bernard Robinson, and Mile Ilic, worth about 4.5 million, have all expired.  Bonzi Wells, Chris Andersen and Ryan Bowen are also no longer under contract, dropping another 4.5 million.  After taking into account raises to the players still under contract, the Hornets will have about 5.5 million worth of money freed up to spend this year.So will the Hornets pay the same amount?  My feeling is yes.  They are a lot more secure financially this year than they were last year, and will probably spend up to the Luxury tax - which was around 67 million this year and may go up a little next year.  They won't go any higher, though, since going higher both costs them extra money and makes them miss out on lucrative payments made to teams under the tax by the teams over the tax. So in the end, what do the Hornets have to spend?  Minus the salary the 27th pick will make - about 6 or 7 million dollars to fill at least 2, probably 3 roster slots.  That's not that much, but the good news is I think we have a pretty good chance to pick up some nice players.  The Hornets, because they are over the cap, can only offer up to the mid-level exception(about 5.5 million per year) to players not on their team.  That means teams that are under the cap by more than 5.5 million can offer more money to those players. This year, however, there aren't many teams under the cap - and those that do have important players they want to re-sign.  Below are the teams that will be under the cap next season and the amount of money they will have - minus how much their draft pick will cost - and followed by any restricted free-agent players they have to decide to pay to keep or not.Charlotte 20 million - with Emeka Okafor to payPhiladelphia 20 million - with Andre Igoudala to payAtlanta 13 million - with Josh Childress and Josh Smith to payChicago 12 million - with Loul Deng and Ben Gordon to payMemphis 8 millionSeattle 4 million - with Robert Swift to . . . not pay. Never mind.Golden State 5.5 million - with Andris Biedrens and Monta Ellis to pay(Baron Davis may opt out and make this 22million)Clippers 0 million to 31 million - Maggette and Brand may opt out, increasing that by 8.4 and 16.4 million each. Shaun Livingston may not get an offer by the Clips, freeing up another 5.8millionNew Jersey 1.5 million - with Nenad Krstic to payIn the end, only Charlotte, Philadelphia, Memphis, and maybe Golden State or the Clippers will be able to throw more than the mid-level exception at free agents.  That puts us on an even footing with most.So now that I've got the financial crap all cleared up, I can finally get to the players I think the Hornets should target. Oh, and let's get it out of the way:  We aren't getting Monta Ellis.  Or Antawn Jamison, Josh Smith, Emeka Okafor, Nenad Krstic, Andre Igoudala, Loul Deng, or Andris Biedrins.  I doubt we could even land Ben Gordon(phew) or Corey Magette(bummer).  They will either re-sign with their own teams for more than we can pay, or get one of the few big payouts that will be on the table.  I'm not going to talk about them.My top Restricted Free AgentsRestricted Free Agents are players whose current teams have the right to match any offer made to the player.  (I.E. If the Hornets make an offer to Josh Childress of 5 years, 25 million, and Childress accepts it, the Hawks can offer the same exact contract and Childress remains with the Hawks.)1)Josh Childress, SF, HawksThe only player on either of these lists I'd be happy with throwing the whole Mid-Level exception at.  Really.  When I talk about teams being efficient and players being efficient - well Josh Childress is the essence of efficiency.  He rebounds well, never turns the ball over, and is an amazing 57% shooter who gets to the foul line a lot.  He's deadly along the baseline, athletic as hell, has a monster afro, and tried to suck Tyson Chandler's face off when the two were put on the Kiss Cam in the Arena.  I doubt he'll come as cheap as I'm hoping here, but why not give it a shot?2)Delonte West, G, CavaliersI really doubt the Cavaliers are going to let him go.  He's pretty much the best piece they got in their massive trade last season.  But if the Hornets were interested and made a play for him, I would be pleased.  West is a great combo guard, can run the point in a pinch and has a nice outside stroke.  And we'd have two D-Wests!  They'd HAVE to put "Fluffy" on the back of David West's Jersey.3)JR Smith, SG, NuggetsHa ha ha ha ha . . . ha ha ha . . . Remember that guy, Byron . . . ha ha . . . you know, the one who left practice early all the time, whined about you in the papers, took crappy shots, never defended anything, and made us . . . hee hee . . . willing to trade him for Tyson Chandler's right shoe?  Yeah, JR!  Hee hee!  We could bring him back!  I know!  . . .  *wheeze* *gasp* . . . What? He says he's learned how to play from Iverson! Ha ha ha! THAT will help his shot selection! Ha ha ha . . . *wheeze* . . . hee hee!4)Sasha Vujacic, SG, LakersI don't much like Vujacic, but that may have something to do with the lame rubber-band he wears to keep his hair back and the annoying Laker's uniform he wears on his back.  However, if he was willing to bring his sweet shooting touch to New Orleans, I think I could learn to like him fine.  However - I doubt the Lakers will not match any offer made to him.My top Free Agents:1)Ronny Turiaf, PF, LakersRonny is a ball of pure, unadulterated energy.  He's energy on the bench, energy off the bench.  He's everything you could ever want in a back up big man and can play both Center and Power Forward.  I would be happy with the Hornets throwing a big chunk of their mid-level at him.(3 years, 3.5 a year?)  Then, if they re-sign Pargo and draft a decent wing to team up with Julian Wright on the second unit, I would call the off-season a success.  The Lakers have a crowded frontcourt - with Bynum, Odom, Gasol and Mihm all under contract.  I'm not sure they'd be willing to pay that much to keep Ronny around.2)DeSagana Diop, C, NetsDiop is under-rated.  He's a good defender, a great rebounder, and a solid shotblocker.  He's had problems in the past with turnovers and almost never takes a shot as a result, but he'd be coming in to spell Chandler and basically be Chandler Lite.  That's fine.  Throw a few million at him and let him rebound and feed Pargo for 20-foot jumpers that may or may not be falling.3)Eduardo Najera, PF, NuggetsNajera is an old Ronny Turiaf, all energy and toughness though he's starting to break down.  As a backup he'd give us some boards, a few nice jumpshots, and solid defense.  He'll also come pretty cheap.  Maybe as low as the veteran's minimum.4)Daniel Gibson, SG, CavaliersI'd go for Gibson if Pargo opts out and sets his price too high to meet.  He's an insane shooter(44% 3-Point), can handle the point if absolutely necessary, and is a proven guy in crunch time.  Plus, his nickname is Boobie.  We could have the Boobie and Ju-Ju show!  Worth the price of admission right there.5)Jarvis Hayes, SG, PistonsI had to check myself here.  My last memory of Hayes was him smoking the Hornets for six threes in Detroit, so I had to go back and make sure that wasn't a freak game.  It was a freak game, but he's still a solid enough scorer off the bench that he wouldn't be a bad backup for the Hornets at the wing.6)Juan Carlos Navarro, SG, GrizzliesNavarro started off the season really well, but slowed down near the end - probably as a result of his team giving up and the fact it was the first time the 27-year old rookie from Spain had played so many games in a season.  He's a savvy player, who can get smoking hot from downtown.  His point guard instincts are questionable, but he'd be a nice back-up shooting guard.7)CJ Miles, SG, JazzCJ gets almost no minutes(8 a game), but in those minutes he has been surprising effective.  His shooting is good, and he doesn't seem very mistake prone.  He'll come pretty cheap, and I'd love the Hornets to throw a small contract his way and see if he can perform as well over more minutes. 8)Chris Duhon, PG, BullsDuhon can't shoot.  He really can't.  He can keep the ball, pass pretty well, defend alright, and generally run an offense.  But score for you?  It's not happening.  Essentially he'll have a really good career as a backup point.  If he can be had cheaply, I wouldn't mind having him.9)Mickael Pietrus, SF, WarriorsI'm not high on Pietrus.  He has a decent offensive game and is as athletic as can be.  My problem is every time I've seen him play, he's been the poster boy for having low "Basketball IQ".  The guy just makes bone-headed mistakes several times a game.  Unless we want Byron to re-fill his doghouse, I don't see a reason to bring him on board.10)Kwame Brown, C, GrizzliesIt's terrible what the weight of expectations can do to someone.  Kwame is pretty much broken at this point, but he's still a seven footer and can rebound a bit.  If he can be had for real cheap, why not let Byron try the same magic he performed with Tyson Chandler?Next Post in the works:  Anyone wanna trade? more...