2008-09 Season in Review: James Posey
By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com

June 4, 2009

Hornets.com continues its look back at the 2008-09 season with player-by-player analysis of the team:


What we expected: After playing a key role on two NBA championship teams over the previous three years, Posey’s free-agent signing was expected to provide a significant upgrade to the Hornets’ inconsistent bench. While sparking Miami (2006) and Boston (2008) to titles, Posey developed a reputation as one of the league’s premier on-ball defenders and clutch perimeter shooters. New Orleans demonstrated its appreciation for Posey’s value by outbidding several contending teams, including the defending champion Celtics, to sign the forward in free agency. Posey said his decision was a “business” one, based partly on the fact that the Hornets were the only club willing to commit to a four-year contract despite Posey being 31 at the time of the signing.

What happened: Overall, the Hornets’ bench did not improve upon the previous season, but that was through no fault of Posey’s. The Xavier (Ohio) product drained numerous clutch fourth-quarter buckets early in the regular season, helping spark narrow victories over Cleveland, Denver and Toronto. Despite a shooting slump over the final few weeks, he compiled arguably his best offensive campaign in several years. His scoring average (8.9 ppg) was his highest since 2003-04, while his field-goal percentage and three-point percentages were down slightly from the previous season. Defensively, he led the Hornets in charges taken and provided much-needed physicality at that end of the floor. The only member of the 14-player roster to not start a game, Posey appeared in the team’s first 71 games, but missed seven straight in March and April due to a sprained left elbow. He returned for the final four regular season games and appeared in all five postseason contests vs. Denver. Despite being hampered by the injury, Posey was one of the few Hornets who performed well in the playoffs. He was third on the team in scoring average (11.4 points) against the Nuggets and was a huge catalyst during the Hornets’ Game 3 comeback, their lone win of the series.

Best game: Posey’s well-rounded ability was perhaps best exhibited by the Dec. 14 victory in Toronto, when he went 6-for-10 from three-point range and also pulled down 10 rebounds. He finished the 99-91 triumph with 20 points on 7-for-11 field-goal shooting.

The future: Signed to a four-year free-agent deal in July 2008, Posey is under contract with the Hornets for three more seasons, through the 2011-2012 NBA campaign. Although many NBA analysts second-guessed New Orleans for committing to a fourth season in Posey’s contract, his average salary is a bargain in comparison to many reserves throughout the league who are far less productive.