NBA Draft 2012: What Anthony Davis Means for Future of New Orleans Hornets

Seven weeks ago, the New Orleans Hornets were a rudderless franchise.

They had no owner, other than commissioner David Stern and his cronies at NBA headquarters in New York. They had no hope for the playoffs, not on the way to a worst-in-the-West 21-45 record. And with Eric Gordon looking like a man on his way out, even after missing 57 games due to injury, they didn't have much hope for the future, either.

Now, Tom Benson is $338 million poorer but one Big Easy sports franchise richer.

And now, one future superstar richer, too.

With a few fortunate ping-pong ball bounces at the lottery on Wednesday, the Hornets scored the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA draft and the rights to Kentucky's Anthony Davis that likely come with it.

The one truly transcendent talent in a draft class that's considered by some to be the deepest in years. The one kid with the gifts and the game to transform a franchise's fortunes all by himself. The one star, with the one brow, who can be a shot-blocking, jump-shooting star now and a post-perfect player on both ends of the floor before too long.

And now, he's ticketed for Crescent City.

The kid who was a six-foot-something guard with barely a college career on his radar a few years ago is now closer to seven feet and the most coveted basketball player who's yet to turn pro.

And now, he'll have Creole Blue and Mardi Gras Gold painted all over him.

But Davis' impact on the Hornets franchise will go far beyond however many shots he swats or how many times he throws it down.

Throw him onto the roster along with whomever GM Dell Demps selects with the 10th overall pick (from the Chris Paul trade), and Eric Gordon might have reason to press pause on his restricted free agency, assuming the Hornets are willing to splash cash at a gifted-but-oft-injured shooting guard.

Put him in the mix, and the Hornets have a shot at respectability next season and, if nothing else, a reason for season-ticket holders to fill the arena again.

Make Anthony Davis the man in the middle, and the Hornets just might march their way onto the map in New Orleans, seizing the opportunity to capture hearts and minds while the Saints (i.e. Tom Benson's "other" team) struggle in the aftermath of "Bountygate."

And to think, all it took was a fat check and a few ping-pong balls to turn the beat around on the Bayou.

Laissez les bons temps rouler, indeed.

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