NBA Trade Rumors: Ryan Anderson Makes the New Orleans Hornets a Dangerous Team

Ryan Anderson has agreed to a four-year deal worth $36 million with the New Orleans Hornets, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

This means that the NBA's toughest division, the Southwest, just got tougher.

The Hornets landed the top pick in the draft, University of Kentucky's Anthony Davis, and added sharpshooter Austin Rivers with their No. 10 pick. They should also look to retain potent scorer Eric Gordon in free agency, even though he was reportedly offered a max deal by the Phoenix Suns (via a tweet by Wojnarowski).  

With a possible starting five including Davis, Gordon, Anderson and Jarrett Jack, it is not far-fetched to imagine the Hornets could become the Bayou's version of the Golden State Warriors.

Defense wins championships, but offense is a good start.

This move bolsters the team's firepower, as Ryan Anderson, the league's Most Improved Player from last season, averaged a surprising 16.1 PPG on 43 percent shooting from the field.

Everything looks good on paper for the young Hornets. The San Antonio Spurs have gotten a year older. The Dallas Mavericks have lost huge contributors to their 2010-2011 championship team. The Memphis Grizzlies are still trying to reach the next level. The Houston Rockets are chasing a superstar who doesn't want to be there with all the pieces they can throw at the Orlando Magic.

Maybe this division is up for grabs?

If nothing else, the additions that the Hornets have made could focus some of the attention on them in the city that Drew Brees built.