“There has been a bit of a distraction,’’ Williams began, but added, “I still get to coach. I’m blessed to be able to coach. I’ve always lived by the Bible verse, `Do your work as unto God and not unto men.’ And for me, it makes it easy.
“Would I love to have some things in order? Absolutely, but it’s not the case,’’ Williams continued. “And when you’re a head coach, when you’re a father, when you’re a husband, you have to deal in reality and I have to devote myself to the people that are here right now.’’
Last week, New Orleans tried to deal Paul to the Lakers, but NBA Commissioner David Stern, acting on behalf of the league-owned team, told Demps to take the deal off the table.
On Monday, Los Angeles Clippers general manager Neil Olshey said his club turned down a proposed trade involving Paul because the asking price was too high, though he did not rule out further negotiations.
The Hornets, who begin their regular season schedule in two weeks, will play their first of two preseason games this Friday night in Memphis. As night fell Monday, the Hornets still had only five returning veterans on the roster, including Paul.
They’ve made no significant free-agent acquisitions, and Hornets guard Jarrett Jack suggested that New Orleans may have trouble luring established free agents until Paul’s status is more certain.
“We can’t go sign a big-time free agent at the moment because we may be getting four, five players (in a trade for Paul) and who knows what their salaries may command,’’ Jack said. “You’ve just got to be patient. I know everybody would like to have it over, get some closure to the situation, but if it was that easy it would have been done. Obviously, these things take time and we’re willing to wait, hopefully not too long.’’
The Hornets had hoped to bring back several of their own free agents, including forward David West, but West agreed Sunday to terms with Indiana, a move that Williams described as “a blow’’ for New Orleans.
