re: For saving the franchise, should the Pelicans retire Chris Paul's jersey?

Not at all. They need more retired numbers in the rafters. For a team over 25 years old to only have a dead player's jersey and a player who was never a member of the Hornets retired is pretty sad. In that span teams the same age as the Hornets have had a lot more success (2 titles in Miami, 2 Finals appearances in Orlando, WCF in Minnesota) That said, he did not save the city.