Kentucky's Anthony Davis to be No. 1 pick

Excitement back as Hornets set to use top pick on Davis

WESTWEGO — Hornets coach Monty Williams stood in the corner of the team’s practice facility, facing eight TV cameras with a boom microphone overhead, surrounded by a cluster of hands holding audio and video recorders.

“Where were you guys last year?” he joked at the start of his chat with media members, which was so crowded that it spawned a verbal confrontation between a cameraman and reporter who had blocked his view.

The buzz is back.

After a disastrous season in which star guard Chris Paul was traded, replacement Eric Gordon played in just nine games because of an injury and the team finished with the worst record in the Western Conference, there’s a lot to look forward to in New Orleans.

That begins with Thursday’s NBA draft, where the franchise holds the No. 1, 10 and 46 picks and has a chance to lay the groundwork for a bright future.

One

In a draft being hailed as one of the deepest in recent years, the Hornets have first dibs on the player atop everyone’s list, 6-foot-10 Kentucky forward Anthony Davis.

“I think Davis is separated from the group,” said ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas, who will assist in the network’s draft coverage. “I don’t think there is an NBA decision-maker out there that would take anybody but Anthony Davis No. 1.”

Hornets General Manager Dell Demps isn’t expected to disprove that theory, as he will almost surely use the top overall pick on Davis. He hinted as much Wednesday, when he listed Davis among the Hornets with a chance of playing in the Olympics.

Davis visited the team this month for a meet-and-greet, leaving an impression to match the one he made during his lone season at Kentucky, when he helped lead the Wildcats to a national title and garnered multiple player of the year awards.

During the visit, he showed a demeanor that reminded Williams of Paul.

“Whatever it is that you can’t explain, they both have it,” Williams said. “It’s the same thing that will drive you nuts one day, but it will help you win more games than not. … That desire to win over individual stuff; they both have that.”

After Davis, things are much less defined.

No. 10

The Hornets’ list of needs is long, and it grew longer after they traded center Emeka Okafor and forward Trevor Ariza last week. A true center to play alongside Davis would be a huge plus, especially since unrestricted free agent center Chris Kaman is unlikely to re-sign.

After a center, the top of Williams’ wish list includes another reliable scorer who can create his own shot, especially late in games.

“We have one guy in Eric Gordon. We’d like to add another in this draft,” Williams said.

As a restricted free agent, Gordon’s future isn’t set in stone, but Demps will have a chance to match offers from any other team and is intent on building around Gordon for the long term.

The No. 10 pick provides an excellent chance to do that.

Top candidates include North Carolina center Tyler Zeller, Duke guard Austin Rivers and Weber State point guard Damian Lillard, but much depends on what happens in the picks ahead of the Hornets.

After a fairly stable consensus on the top few prospects (Davis, Florida guard Bradley Beal, Kansas forward Thomas Robinson and Kentucky forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist), the potential is there for plenty of movement.

Demps said his strategy is to draft the best available player, meaning that if a blue-chip player slips, the Hornets will snatch him up, regardless of position needs. After all, a team coming off a 21-45 season needs just about everything.

Zeller could fit the Hornets on two fronts.

At 7 feet, he’d bring much-needed height (if not strength) and could adjust well to Williams’ up-tempo style of play.

“He’s got a skill that you don’t see in many big men. He can really run the floor, and that puts a ton of pressure on opposing big guys,” said Bilas, who also praised Zeller’s jump shot, free-throw shooting and post defense.

“He’ll do very well. I like his chances to be a really good player.”

Demps could also trade the pick, perhaps acquiring a proven veteran or moving down a few spots for a less-heralded prospect like Tar Heels guard Kendall Marshall. He has spoken with other teams, but no viable option has come forward for a swap.

“Everybody is talking to everybody right now,” Demps said. “I got offered a couple of bridges and swamps, but right now I think we’ll keep (pick No.) 10.”

No. 46

With a deep pool of draft prospects and room on the roster, the Hornets are looking for a regular contributor with their second-round pick, which they acquired in the trade that send Okafor and Ariza to Washington.

That didn’t leave much time to scout potential selections, but the Hornets brought in 11 players for workouts on Wednesday that may fit in that range.

“We want that guy to make our team,” Williams said. “This is a deep draft, so that’s the plan — to have that guy be on our roster.”

Demps said the second-round strategy will also be to look for the best available player, all the while knowing that he isn’t going to construct an NBA champion in the draft alone.

“We don’t think in one draft you can fill all your needs and everything you want,” he said. “We’re going to take the process and take our time. We’re not trying to hit grand slams. We want to hopefully draft three players and keep moving forward and building the team for the future for sustained success.”

Restrained optimism

The opportunity before the Hornets is a rare one: the top overall pick; two lottery selections for the first time in team history; a second-rounder in an unusually deep draft; and room under the salary cap for signings during the free agency period, which begins Monday.

While Williams acknowledges the future looks more promising than when he joined the team two seasons ago, he expects a few years of growing pains.

And that’s enough to cure Williams of the fever that’s gripping so many New Orleanians these days.

“We’re going to acquire some talent, and it’s up to me and our staff to put these guys in a position to succeed,” Williams said. “That takes away all the excitement, because I deal in reality. I don’t deal in excitement.”