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Chris Paul out 4-6 weeks after knee surgery

New Orleans Hornets All-Star point guard Chris Paul underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Thursday afternoon for a meniscal repair. Paul is expected to be out approximately four-to-six weeks. Paul underwent the surgery in Pensacola, Florida by Dr. James Andrews. He will be on crutches for the next two-to-three weeks and will begin rehabilitation immediately.

“Obviously this is a tough thing for me,” said Paul. “I have been fortunate through my career as a basketball player to not have suffered many injuries. The main thing is for me to get back healthy and to help this team however I can. Everything happens for a reason and I know I will come back stronger than ever. I have the utmost confidence in Darren Collison to step up in my absence.”

Paul tweaked the knee against the Golden State Warriors last Wednesday night, and then suffered the injury to the knee while chasing down a loose ball in the final seconds of Friday’s game against the Chicago Bulls.

“You never want to be in this position to replace a guard like Chris Paul in the middle of the season,” said general manager and head coach Jeff Bower. “We want to continue to take advantage of the talent and skills that Darren and Marcus have shown over the course of this season.”

Paul has averaged 20.4 points, 11.2 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 steals in 38 games this season, ranking 1st in assists, 2nd in steals and 16th in scoring in the NBA. Yesterday, he was named the Western Conference Player of the Month for January after leading the Hornets to a Western Conference-high 12 wins during the month with averages of 20.8 points, 11.9 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals.

Collison, a rookie out of UCLA, has averaged 14.6 points and 8.4 assists as a starter this season in Paul’s absence (5-6 record), including a 17-point, 18-assist effort in the Hornets overtime win in Memphis on Saturday. Paul missed eight games this season due to sprained left ankle.

Paul, a three-time All-Star, will not participate in the All-Star game, but will be on hand to support the Western Conference.

Chauncey Billups to replace Chris Paul on 2010 West NBA All-Star team

Denver Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups has been named by NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace injured West All-Star guard Chris Paul (meniscus injury, left knee) of the New Orleans Hornets in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game in Dallas. Billups will be making his fifth All-Star appearance.

The NBA All-Star Game will air live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages worldwide at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 14.

Marc J. Spears of Yahoo reports:

Paul is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Thursday to repair a meniscus tear and will miss the All-Star Game. NBA commissioner David Stern chose Billups as Paul’s replacement. Billups is averaging 19.4 points and 6.2 assists and has guided the Nuggets to the Western Conference’s second-best record. He averaged 24.2 points in January, including a career-high-tying 37 against Golden State on Jan. 20.

Billups received the news while he was resting up Wednesday afternoon for the Nuggets’ game against the Phoenix Suns.

“I’m definitely excited,” Billups said. “It’s always great to be at the best weekend with the world’s best basketball players.”

InsideHoops.com provides full coverage of NBA All-Star weekend.

Chris Paul to have left knee surgery

New Orleans Hornets All-Star point guard Chris Paul will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Thursday afternoon for a meniscal repair. Paul will undergo the surgery in Pensacola, Florida by Dr. James Andrews. A timetable for his injury will be determined following the surgery.

According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, “Paul will likely miss up to a month and not play in the Feb. 14 All-Star Game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.”

“Obviously you never want to be in this position to replace a guard like Chris Paul in the middle of the season,” said general manager and head coach Jeff Bower. “We want to continue to take advantage of the talent and skills that Darren and Marcus have shown over the course of this season.”

Hornets trade Bobby Brown to Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers today acquired guard Bobby Brown from the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for a 2014 conditional second round draft pick and cash considerations. In a related move, the Clippers released guard JamesOn Curry from his 10-day contract.

“With today’s move, we put ourselves in a position that is under the luxury tax threshold while preserving the ability to maximize our results on the court and keeping our core intact,” said Hornets head coach Jeff Bower.

Brown, 25, has appeared in 25 games for the Hornets this season and is averaging 6.6 points and 2.1 assists in 14.9 minutes per game. A Los Angeles native who starred at Westchester High School and Cal-State Fullerton, Brown played for the Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves in 2008-09 and has appeared in a total of 90 NBA games, making two starts with career averages of 5.6 points, 1.8 assists and 0.8 rebounds in 14.0 minutes.

Not drafted after finishing his college career as Cal-State Fullerton’s all-time leading scorer, Brown appeared for Alba Berlin of Germany in 2007-08 before signing as a free agent with Sacramento. One of the greatest players in Cal-State Fullerton history, Brown was named to the Big West All-Conference Team two times in his career.

Curry was signed by the Clippers to a 10-day contract on Jan. 22, 2010 and appeared in one game for Los Angeles.

Hornets trade Devin Brown to Bulls for Aaron Gray

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have acquired center Aaron Gray from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for guard Devin Brown.

“Aaron will help bolster our frontcourt and add depth to our team,” Head Coach and General Manager Jeff Bower said. “We continue to be pleased with the play of Marcus Thornton and feel he, along with our other backcourt players, can step up.”

“We’re excited to add Devin Brown to our team,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “His toughness, defensive versatility, and shooting will be excellent additions to our perimeter rotation.”

Gray, in his third year after being drafted 49th overall out of Pitt in the 2007 NBA Draft, is averaging 2.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in eight games with the Bulls this season. The 7-foot, 270-pound center has career averages of 3.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, having played in 125 games (19 starts).

The Hornets signed Brown as a free agent on August 22, 2008. Brown holds career averages of 7.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in his 8-year career. In 160 games as a Hornet (91 starts), Brown averaged 8.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists, playing for the club in the 2006-07 season and since signing back with New Orleans on August 22, 2008. This season, Brown has averaged 9.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 39 games (37 starts).

Hornets Owner George Shinn has surgery for prostate cancer

Hornets Owner George Shinn underwent successful surgery today to remove his prostate and will begin immediate rehab. Shinn was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early November and has been committed to living a healthy lifestyle and remaining positive. The surgery removed 100 percent of the cancer, and Shinn is expected to make a full recovery. Shinn will complete most of his rehab out of town and looks forward to returning to his regular work routine soon.

The surgery was completed by Dr. Patrick Walsh at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institution in Baltimore.

“Following today’s successful surgery to completely remove the cancer, Mr. Shinn will begin the process to a full and speedy recovery and is anxious to return to the Hive to watch his team play and enjoy the recent success the team is experiencing,” said Hornets Team Spokesman Harold Kaufman. “With the support of his immediate and extended Hornets family, Mr. Shinn is an example of how positive thinking and the power of prayer can serve you in your own time of need. He will conduct the majority of his rehab out of town for the next few weeks, but looks forward to thanking everyone in person for their well wishes and prayers.”

Hornets trade Hilton Armstrong to Kings

The Sacramento Kings today acquired the services of center-forward Hilton Armstrong in a trade with the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for a conditional 2016 second round pick and cash considerations, according to Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.

“We’re looking forward to having Hilton join the team,” explained Petrie. “He gives us an athletic player who can play the four and five positions. We think he can come in and contribute and we’re looking forward to watching him play.”

Armstrong, who is currently in his fourth NBA season, is averaging 2.8 points (.380 FGs, .464 FTs) and 3.4 rebounds per game for the Hornets through 18 outings. He has amassed career averages of 3.6 points (.513 FGs, .605 FTs) and 2.7 rebounds per game through 209 contests.

Selected as the 12th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft by New Orleans, Armstrong enjoyed a four-year career at the University of Connecticut and was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.

Hornets face tough schedule

John Reid of the New Orleans Times Picayune reports:

New Orleans plays 11 of its next 16 games this month on the road. Despite its 13-3 record at the New Orleans Arena, the Hornets are in last place in the Southwest Division, a half-game behind the Memphis Grizzlies based on Sunday’s standings.

Hornets Coach Jeff Bower said he addressed his players Sunday about the challenges they face this month. After Utah, the Hornets play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night at the Ford Center. The Thunder, led by Kevin Durant, is a surging young team that is in the playoff hunt with an 18-15 record.

“We talked about our schedule and our ability to address our road record,’’ Bower said. “We have a lot of road games, but we view it as an opportunity to make progress and move ahead.’’

Tyrus Thomas terrific in return

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reports:

The first day of the rest of the Bulls’ season transpired Saturday night at the United Center.

There was Tyrus Thomas, swatting shots and filling lanes. There was Kirk Hinrich, pushing the tempo and picking up fullcourt. There was Joakim Noah, stuffing the box score with another monster double-double of 17 points and 18 rebounds with four blocks.

The Bulls have more double-digit collapses than double-digit victories, which is why their 96-85 triumph over the Hornets was as welcome as Thomas’ return.

Sidelined for seven weeks and 22 games following surgery to repair a fractured radius in his left forearm, Thomas was an athletic jolt, finishing with 21 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.

Tyson Chandler out at least one week

The Charlotte Bobcats announced today that center Tyson Chandler will miss a minimum of one week due to a stress reaction in the fourth metatarsal of his left foot. Chandler suffered the injury, which was initially diagnosed as a left forefoot sprain, in the third quarter of Tuesday’s 88-76 win over Detroit. X-rays taken at the arena came back negative, but Chandler underwent a precautionary MRI on Wednesday morning performed by team physician Dr. Glenn Perry, who concluded that Chandler had a stress reaction.

The Charlotte Bobcats, who became the NBA’s 30th franchise when they joined the league in 2004-05, return to action Saturday when they travel to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder at 8:00pm ET. The game can be seen on SportSouth and heard on WFNZ 610 AM.

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