Maybe not getting Brandon Bass is a good thing for the Hornets future.
Bass will likely command a salary in the $5 million a year range. If the Hornets had signed Bass and not traded Tyson Chandler, their payroll would balloon to over $80 million next season. Of course, there's no way this will happen. At this point, the Hornets will likely have to give Tyson Chandler away just to dump his salary.
Last night, the NBA sent a memo to all clubs regarding the salary cap and luxury tax for the 2009-2010 season. The "tax" for that year will plummet to $65 million. The Hornets are simply in "tax jail". For this season they tie about $31 million dollars in money tied up on spot up shooters.
Peja Stojakovic alone is owed $29 million over the next seasons.
Even if the Hornets had Bass, what are they this season? They are a team that will hardpressed to make the playoffs.
Time to get younger and cheaper. In the NBA, today, there a lot of teams who are thinking exactly the same thing.