Tag: Emeka Okafor

All-Time Charlotte Hornets Team

All-Time Charlotte Hornets Team Infographic

I’ve already detailed the confusing history of our next franchise. They vanished into thin air in the 2003 and 2004 seasons, only to be reincarnated as the woeful Bobcats, before getting back their beloved team name 10 years later. Many of the best players in franchise history – including Alonzo Mourning, Glen Rice, Anthony Mason (RIP), Baron Davis, and Al Jefferson – were ineligible for inclusion on their all-time team, due to not playing enough seasons with the franchise. And while we could throw them a bone and include these players anyway, they’ve been in existence for a total of 25 years, which should be enough to comply with the rules (as previous teams have shown). The All-Time Charlotte Hornets team would have a tough time competing in the 2015-16 NBA season, much less in this tournament of legends, where they’ll serve as road kill for their first-round opponent.

The starting point guard, Muggsy Bogues, is best known as the shortest player in NBA history (5’3”), but he was more than a novelty act; he was a good play maker who had a 4.75:1 career assist-to-turnover ratio. He wasn’t a good outside shooter, however, and will struggle to guard many of the larger point guards in this tournament. Dell Curry, the starting shooting guard, is best known for the work of his son, but he was an excellent shooter in Charlotte who won a Sixth Man of the Year award. There are plenty of guard options off the bench, though none of them are overly impressive. Kemba Walker is a high usage, low efficiency point guard. Raymond Felton was the product of the Bobcats’ seemingly endless bad draft luck. In 2005, they won only 18 games, and tied for the second worst record in the league, but they received the fifth pick in the draft, and watched Deron Williams and Chris Paul get drafted right before they selected the mediocre Felton. David Wesley and Kendall Gill were both solid off guards; Wesley was a more diminutive (6’0”) player who could also play at the point, while Gill had good size for his position (6’5”) and could also play at small forward. Gerald Henderson has shown flashes on the recent Charlotte teams, but is another average player who doesn’t move the needle for this squad.

The starting forwards are the only two players on the team who have made an all-star game in Charlotte. Gerald Wallace, AKA Crash, was an excellent all-around player who competed hard on both ends of the court. Larry Johnson was the first pick in the 1991 draft, and many envisioned him as the second coming of Charles Barkley. While back trouble derailed his promising career, he was still an offensive force with Charlotte, who also put up impressive assist numbers from the power forward position. Emeka Okafor, the starting center, was a very good rim protector who averaged a double-double in his Charlotte career. Off the bench, Elden Campbell and Nazr Mohammed provide size and rim protection, and should get plenty of minutes behind the smaller starters.

What started off as a very promising franchise has devolved into one of the laughingstocks of the NBA. Even their legendary owner’s reputation has taken a hit since he took over the team. An influx of talent is needed to turn around the fortunes of both the modern day and all-time franchise teams, but, unfortunately, there does not seem to be much help coming on the horizon.

Coach: Dave Cowens

All-Time Franchise Winning Percentage (through 2014-15): .434

All-Time New Orleans Pelicans Team

All-Time New Orleans Pelicans Team Infographic

It’s hard to know what to do with our next franchise. They’ve only been in existence for 13 seasons, and it’s hard to define who they really are. What do I mean by that? Well, the Charlotte Hornets were established in 1989. They moved to New Orleans in 2003, becoming the New Orleans Hornets. Meanwhile, the Charlotte Bobcats were established in 2005, two years after the Hornets left town. In 2014, New Orleans decided to change their name to the Pelicans, seemingly for comedic purposes. Since the ‘Hornets’ name was now up for grabs, the Bobcats decided to change their name to the Hornets, starting in 2015. Somehow the former Bobcats seem to have magically adopted the history of the Hornets franchise, while the first year of the New Orleans franchise is considered to be 2003, even though they really have been in existence since 1989. Confused yet? You should be. The All-Time New Orleans Pelicans team considers only those players who have been a part of the franchise since that original 2003 date, even though that doesn’t make any logical sense.

Since this is technically our newest franchise, they don’t have the longevity to field a team that complies with our rules (namely, each player having played at least four seasons and 200 games with the franchise). So we’ll make a team with the best players in franchise history, regardless of longevity, and, to be fair, they’ll forfeit the opportunity to advance in our tournament. With that out of the way, this team is anchored by two players who have a chance to be among the greatest to ever play their respective positions. Chris Paul played his first six years with the franchise, and garnered some of the most impressive statistics ever seen at the point guard position. He led the league in assists twice in New Orleans, and in steals three times. He also finished second in MVP voting in the 2007-08 season, when he led the team to 56 wins and an improbable Southwest Division title. Anthony Davis is just beginning his reign of excellence, but is already one of the best players in the league at 22 years of age. In 2014-15, Davis accumulated the 11th greatest player efficiency rating in NBA history, and if he continues on this path, he has a great chance to join the list of all-time great power forwards.

The other starters are David West, along with the oft-injured Baron Davis and Jamal Mashburn. West was an excellent complement to Paul, and earned two all-star appearances with the franchise. Davis was a dynamic play-maker when healthy and motivated; however, he was also a woefully inefficient shooter who wasn’t known for his work ethic. Jamal Mashburn made the All-NBA third team in 2002-03, when he played all 82 games for the only time in his career. He only played 19 more games with the franchise before retiring, but he remains the leading scorer on a points per game basis in New Orleans’ history.

Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans are the backup guards. The Eric Gordon signing hasn’t worked out well for New Orleans, but he’s re-discovered his three-point stroke in his last two seasons, and will open up the floor when he’s on the court. Tyreke Evans has switched to primarily playing small forward, and his ballhandling has helped the team adjust to the constant absence of Jrue Holiday (due to injuries). Peja Stojakovic and Ryan Anderson can stretch the floor from both forward positions. The three-headed big man combo of P.J. Brown, Tyson Chandler, and Emeka Okafor can protect the paint and make New Orleans competitive on the glass. Expect big minutes from this trio, especially since the starting lineup lacks a true center.

Down the road, this team will be intriguing, since they’re anchored by two Hall-of-Famers in the making. In the meantime, their forfeit allows the All-Time Bulls to advance to the second round of our tournament, where they’ll face the winner of the All-Time Hawks vs. the All-Time Mavericks.

Coach: Byron Scott

All-Time Franchise Winning Percentage (through 2014-15): .474