NBA Notes: Hire Scott Now

The Hornets are idiots: So let me try to understand this: The New Orleans Hornets fired Byron Scott today with the team struggling with a 3-6 record this season, even though the Hornets made the playoffs last season and  Scott led the Hornets to a franchise-best record of 56-26 in 2007-2008. I understand that the Hornets had high expectations after trading Tyson Chandler to the Charlotte Bobcats for Emeka Okafor. The former Connecticut center had battled injuries his whole career, so it was unrealistic to rely on him to take this team to the next level. Instead of adding some size like Taj Gibson or DeJuan Blair or scorers like Wayne Ellington or Tony Douglas, the Hornets drafted a backup point guard in Darren Collison. The former UCLA point guard is only averaging 4.2 points this season and the Hornets needed a lot more than a backup point guard to Chris Paul. Expect general manager Jeff Bower to run this team into the ground. The Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, New Jersey Nets, Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies would all improve if they hired Scott.

Knicks should compete with Hawks for Johnson: If the Atlanta Hawks are smart (which they aren’t), they will re-sign star Joe Johnson after the season. Johnson has never won an NBA ring, but he is one of the most underrated stars in the NBA. Keep in mind that Kobe Bryant needed Ron Artest to step in and stop Johnson earlier this season after Johnson lit Kobe Bryant up in the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Johnson has the ability to take over the game and the Hawks need Johnson to lead the team into the next decade. Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix brings up a good point with Johnson: If the New York Knicks can’t sign LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh or Amar’e Stoudamire, will Knicks fan be happy if the team signs Johnson? Knicks coach Mike D"Antoni coached Johnson with the Phoenix Suns and Johnson would be a great fit in that offense. Johnson might not be boys with Jay-Z, but he would lead them to the playoffs with help from players like Wilson Chandler.