MIA sportswriters throw up a lot of BS, so I'm asking you .. could they be true? Is NOH desperate to make sure they stay under the lux next season?
Any way MIN can get in on this?

Moderator: bwgood77
Marc Stein wrote: . A deal for Toronto's Jermaine O'Neal remains readily available to the Miami Heat. The Sacramento Kings likewise would still love to send Brad Miller to Miami for Shawn Marion as long as they don't have to take back Marcus Banks, too.
And word comes now that another matter for Miami to consider is the prospect of sending Marion to New Orleans for a package headlined by Tyson Chandler.
There have been no firm indications that such a swap is imminent, but it's a scenario mentioned more than once in the past week. And that's probably because acquiring Chandler would be consistent with Pat Riley's well-known preference to bring back proven size if he parts with Marion's $17.8 million expiring contract before the deadline.
The Heat, however, are just as determined not to take back contracts that extend past the 2009-10 season, which would seem to rule this out as a possibility, given that Chandler has a $13.2 million player option for 2010-11 that he is certain to exercise.
Is Chandler good enough for Riley to bend his 2010 policy? Would he sufficiently fill Miami's void inside and give Dwyane Wade more reason to re-sign with the Heat in the summer of 2010? Debatable.
There are cons for the Hornets, as well. Can they really part with a big man of Chandler's ability, given how little they have behind Chandler and David West, for a player who could leave them in free agency this summer?
Yet sources close to the situation refuse to rule out Chandler's departure. Chris Paul and West, sources say, are the Hornets' only two untouchables.
Chandler is an elite defensive force at his best, but his dip in performance this season -- which began before the 26-year-old's recent ankle problem -- is undeniable. Factor in New Orleans' own well-known desire to join the clutch of teams trying to slash payroll and its long-standing interest in acquiring an athletic wing man to partner with Paul and West, and you can see why Marion's name comes up.
Miami, meanwhile, continues to pursue Dallas' Josh Howard, in spite of Mark Cuban's insistence that the Mavs won't do a Howard-for-Marion trade.
New Orleanians usually embrace the carefree attitudes that earned their town the appellation "The city that care forgot." But there has never been any question that its citizens have passion for what they perceive to be theirs, be it the abundant festivals and celebrations, chicory coffee or red beans on Monday.
So it should be no surprise that despite a historic nationwide economic downturn, New Orleans is heartily supporting two professional sports franchises in the smallest two-team pro marketplace in the nation.
The Hornets, for the first time since relocating to New Orleans from Charlotte, N.C., in 2002, are experiencing unmatched ticket sales and attendance figures that in larger markets and better financial times would not be unusual. But in this time and place it is, as Hornets President Hugh Weber said, "an interesting story."
The Hornets, thanks in part to last season's record-setting number of wins, Western Conference contention and MVP candidate Chris Paul, this season sold nearly 11,000 season tickets, including 5,310 full packages. That is an increase of 102 percent from last season. They also sold all the suites in the New Orleans Arena, sold 6,000 new season-ticket packages and had a 90-percent renewal rate for season tickets.
The teams this year eclipsing the 10,000 full-season-ticket sales mark are the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz. New to the list this season are the Celtics, Bulls, Hornets, Blazers and Thunder. Dropping off the 10,000 full-season sales list are the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat.
Through Jan. 19, the NBA is averaging 17,244 fans per game, up 0.9 percent to date from last season. The Pistons lead the NBA in attendance with an average of 22,076 fans per game. The Sacramento Kings are last in the NBA in average attendance with 12,277 fans per game. The Kings also have the largest attendance decrease in the NBA with an 11.6 percent drop at the gate. The New Orleans Hornets have the highest attendance gain with a 38.6 percent increase to an average of 16,976 fans per game.
Copperhead wrote:Shinn is not losing money. He currently has more season ticket sales and corporate partners than he's ever had since he's been in N.O. I don't know where people get the assumption that Shinn is losing money. As for as this Marion for Chandler rumor, I hope that's all it is.
Hornets able to cash in on unswerving loyaltyNew Orleanians usually embrace the carefree attitudes that earned their town the appellation "The city that care forgot." But there has never been any question that its citizens have passion for what they perceive to be theirs, be it the abundant festivals and celebrations, chicory coffee or red beans on Monday.
So it should be no surprise that despite a historic nationwide economic downturn, New Orleans is heartily supporting two professional sports franchises in the smallest two-team pro marketplace in the nation.
The Hornets, for the first time since relocating to New Orleans from Charlotte, N.C., in 2002, are experiencing unmatched ticket sales and attendance figures that in larger markets and better financial times would not be unusual. But in this time and place it is, as Hornets President Hugh Weber said, "an interesting story."The Hornets, thanks in part to last season's record-setting number of wins, Western Conference contention and MVP candidate Chris Paul, this season sold nearly 11,000 season tickets, including 5,310 full packages. That is an increase of 102 percent from last season. They also sold all the suites in the New Orleans Arena, sold 6,000 new season-ticket packages and had a 90-percent renewal rate for season tickets.
http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/index.ss ... xml&coll=1The teams this year eclipsing the 10,000 full-season-ticket sales mark are the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz. New to the list this season are the Celtics, Bulls, Hornets, Blazers and Thunder. Dropping off the 10,000 full-season sales list are the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat.Through Jan. 19, the NBA is averaging 17,244 fans per game, up 0.9 percent to date from last season. The Pistons lead the NBA in attendance with an average of 22,076 fans per game. The Sacramento Kings are last in the NBA in average attendance with 12,277 fans per game. The Kings also have the largest attendance decrease in the NBA with an 11.6 percent drop at the gate. The New Orleans Hornets have the highest attendance gain with a 38.6 percent increase to an average of 16,976 fans per game.
http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/61342
Doctor MJ wrote:I don't understand why people jump in a thread and say basically, "This thing you're all talking about. I'm too ignorant to know anything about it. Lollerskates!"
Doctor MJ wrote:I don't understand why people jump in a thread and say basically, "This thing you're all talking about. I'm too ignorant to know anything about it. Lollerskates!"
Knicksick wrote:How does that only save 12-14 million? Marion expires this year and Chandler has 2 years remaining after this year for 12mill. and 13mill. That's at least 25mill. saved---IF you are under the luxury tax. If not than your owner has to be even more.
Doctor MJ wrote:I don't understand why people jump in a thread and say basically, "This thing you're all talking about. I'm too ignorant to know anything about it. Lollerskates!"
hype_2004 wrote:this is for preparation of next season, as the current economic climate in the us goes, 1 has to wonder jhow many "loyal" Hornets fans would renew their seasons tickets in the looming recession. These people have families and need to put food on the table above anything else, inflation and the fear of job loss is very high in the New Orleans area, Shinn is just preparing for the worst and \i don't blame him.
Doctor MJ wrote:I don't understand why people jump in a thread and say basically, "This thing you're all talking about. I'm too ignorant to know anything about it. Lollerskates!"
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