It’s no surprise when I say there needs to be a change in the Big Easy - and no I’m not talking about the Saints (for once).

The New Orleans Hornets are struggling to the tune of a 1-3 start to the season, with their lone win against a horrible Sacramento King team and their most recent loss to the New York Knicks last night 117-111 despite solid double-doubles by both Chris Paul and Emeka Okafor.

The team as a whole stinks. David West is now the most overrated forward in the entire NBA (well maybe second most to Zach Randolph) and he may be the only salvageable trade bait without parting with Paul or Okafor. Byron Scott is holding true to his motto of not playing rookies, regardless of how bad his veterans are. The two PROMISING rookies for the Hornets have played a combined 3 MINUTES through the first four games with all of which going to Darren Collison against Spurs last week.

Instead, Scott is sticking with perhaps the worst player in the NBA, Morris Peterson. Mo Pete hasn’t played decent basketball in at least three years and has shown no signs of life averaging a measly 6.5 points per game with less than 1 assist and shooting 35% from the field and 25% from three. Granted this is coming from a guy that’s “supposed” to be an above average jump shooter. And let’s not forget he was the main guy that guarded Kobe Bryant on his remarkable 81 point game four years ago. So his defense is shit, too.

What should they do?

For starters, Peterson, Peja Stojakovic and West all have to go. Rumor is the Hornets are interested in the Warriors’ forward Stephen Jackson. With an abundance of talent at Jackson’s position, the one time NBA champion should be traded within the next couple of weeks. If the Hornets can trade two of three (or all, if we’re lucky) of the above mentioned guys for Jackson and maybe either Anthony Marrow or Acie Law, the Bees would be well improved.

Hornets management shouldn’t stop there, though.

Byron Scott has to go! He is too stubborn in his coaching and seems to have lost this team. Chris Paul of all people spoke out last night after their loss about how the team needs to find an identity. And he’s right. This team has no identity. Aside from Paul working his magic and Okafor collecting some boards and put backs, this team has nothing going for them. To fit Paul’s skill set, the team has to get longer, faster and meaner. None of which describes David West who is slow, short and a nightmare on defense.

Hire someone like Flip Saunders. Trade for a guy like Stephen Jackson. And play talented rookies like Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton. This team could be a fifth or sixth seed in the West. Changes have to be made soon, before they dig themselves into too big of a hole and lose yet another promising season with the most dominant point guard in the league.