Ex-Kentucky Wildcat Anthony Davis will be a “Franchise-Changer” for New Orleans Hornets

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“Landing Anthony Davis is an amazing win for our city, state and the Hornets franchise,” WDSU Sports Director Fletcher Mackel said in an email.

Mackel said that the Hornets landing the Brow will help the New Orleans area move on from the Saints bounty scandal and Drew Brees’ contract at the moment.

Mackel believes the impact that Davis will have for the Hornets during his rookie season will be “substantial.”

“Are the Hornets an immediate playoff contender beacuse they’ll draft Anthony Davis?” Mackel said.  “Yes, but a fringe playoff team, a #7 or #8 seed.”

“The Hornets can become a playoff team if Davis is as good as advertised and he picks up the pro game as easily as he picked up the college game…AND…if Eric Gordon is re-signed and healthy.

“The Hornets were 29th in the NBA in scoring so they need a 20-point-a-night guy to alleviate some of their offensive woes.

“If Gordon is back…and I believe he will be…and if Davis is the player we all expect then the Hornets will become a playoff team…and in two year, if things play-out as expected then New Orleans could be the next OKC Thunder.”

“Absolutely,” Sporting News NBA writer Sean Deveney told me about Davis helping their playoff chances.  “They were a better team than their record showed before the lottery. Now, they’re in that playoff tier w the Grizzlies, Rockets, Clippers and Jazz. They should be among the top 7 or 8 teams in the West.”

“Hornets fans are very high on the young players already on that roster,” Henry Abbott, of TrueHoop, said in an email.  “And defense is their thing.  So the direction is good for that franchise. And health alone would improve the team dramatically.

“But I don’t think there are any players his age who have ever made a bad team good solo.  If MJ and LeBron didn’t do it…

“Just think the more realistic thing is that if all goes well, and they make other good moves, they have a chance to be a force in a few years.”

Ken Trahan, who manages SportsNOLA.com, has been involved with sports media in New Orleans for the last 35 years, in one form or another.  Trahan believes Davis will have a “significant impact” for the franchise.

“I believe Davis will have a significant impact,” Trahan told me.  “He is coachable, unselfish, has great timing on blocking shots and rebounds well.  In addition, he can pass for a big man and has nice touch despite having a way to go on the offensive end of the floor.  Monty Williams loves guys who defends and Davis will fit in very well.  With Eric Gordon likely here and healthy, the Hornets certainly will be an improved team though they will need more (perhaps the 10th overall pick, a trade for a proven veteran) to become a playoff contender in the deep Western Conference.”

“Anthony Davis is going to change the whole culture of this franchise in my opinion,” said Christian Blanks, editor for Fansided’s New Orleans Hornets site, Swarm & Sting.  “He is going to bring that Serge Ibaka/Kevin Garnet defensive intensity. He is definitely starting right away and will probably see close to 40 minutes a game instantly.”

“I can not say that they will instantly be a playoff contender with just Anthony Davis. The Hornets must put the right pieces around him. If the Hornets resign UFA Eric Gordon and he has a good healthy season, I’d expect the Hornets to be in some type of playoff contention. Especially If they get a solid player with their 10th pick in the draft.”

Kentucky fans will miss Davis the most.  He was a special player and, of course, Big Blue Nation wishes nothing but the best for the consensus Player of the Year.  Wildcat fans will keep an eye on his NBA career with a great interest.