New Orleans Pelicans Blog – Page 75 – NBA Blog

Timberwolves trade Darius Songaila, Bobby Brown to Hornets for Antonio Daniels, pick

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have acquired forward Darius Songaila and guard Bobby Brown from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for guard Antonio Daniels and a 2014 second round pick.

According to the Associated Press, “the move will cut the Hornets’ payroll by $1.3 million this season, but Songaila has two years left on his contract, while Daniels’ contract expires after next season. The Timberwolves take on a little more salary this season, but get out from under Songaila’s player option for next year, which will cost about $4.8 million.”

“This move gives us added depth at the guard position and the power forward position,” said Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower. “Darius brings toughness and experience to bolster our frontcourt. We know Bobby pretty well from when he played on our summer league team and are excited to add his speed and scoring ability.”

Songaila, (6-9, 248), averaged 7.4 points and 2.9 rebounds in 77 games (29 starts) for the Washington Wizards last season. The six-year NBA veteran out of Wake Forest University, has career averages of 7.0 points and 3.5 rebounds over 410 games (78 starts) for the Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls and Wizards. Songaila has appeared in 21 career playoff games, averaging 5.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in those contests. The former 50th overall selection in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, Songaila has helped his native country Lithuania to third and fourth place finishes, respectively, in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.

Brown, (6-2, 175), averaged 5.3 points and 1.7 assists in 68 games last season with the Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves. Brown notched a career-high 21 points as a member of the Kings against the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 23, 2008. An undrafted rookie out of Cal State Fullerton in 2007, Brown spent the 2007-08 season playing for Alba Berlin of the German League. He averaged 14.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 0.90 steals in 16 games for Alba Berlin, leading the club to its first league championship since 2003. Brown played for the 2008 Hornets Summer League team, leading the Hornets in scoring (15.2) and assists (6.2) over the course of six games.

“Antonio has the ability to play both guard positions and will provide a veteran presence and added flexibility to our backcourt,” said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. “This trade also provides increased flexibility for personnel moves beginning next summer.”

Daniels, 34, was originally selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies with the fourth overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft and has appeared in 867 games during his 12-year career, including stops in Vancouver, San Antonio, Portland, Seattle, Washington and New Orleans. The 6-4 guard owns career averages of 7.6 points and 3.4 assists per game. A standout at Bowling Green and the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year in 1997, Daniels has competed in the playoffs in 10 of his 12 NBA seasons.

Read NBA fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Hornets monitoring Peja Stojakovic`s health

John Reid of the New Orleans Times Picayune reports: When New Orleans Hornets small forward Peja Stojakovic reports for training camp later this month, General Manager Jeff Bower and Coach Byron Scott will already know if his previous back problems will be a factor. Two weeks ago, the franchise sent Mark Cranston, Director of Athlete Performance and Rehabilitation, to evaluate Stojakovic at his offseason home in Greece. Last season, the Hornets was unable to get a precise update on Stojakovic’s back condition until he reported for camp.

InsideHoops.com editor says: There’s not a lot of reason to have faith in Stojakovic anymore. At 32 years of age he doesn’t qualify as old just yet, but limited athletic ability combined with health issues could mean he’s best suited as a prime scoring option off the bench rather than as a core starter. Stojakovic averaged just 13.3 points on 39.9% shooting last season and did next to nothing in the playoffs. Hopefully he regains health, stays young and bounces back.

Hornets re-sign Sean Marks

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have re-signed free agent center Sean Marks. Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not released.

“We’re very pleased to re-sign Sean due to his ability to provide a low post presence off the bench and how well he fit in with our team,” said Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower. “He had one of his best seasons as a pro with us last season, and we anticipate that he will continue to develop as a player under Coach Scott.”

Marks (6-10, 250) originally signed with the Hornets on August 28, 2008, after spending the first eight seasons of his NBA career with the Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors. He averaged 3.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 14.1 minutes, appearing in 60 games (five starts) last season.

“Sean was a big part of our success last season and he showed that he could be called upon to play a larger role when necessary,” said Head Coach Byron Scott. “I look forward to having him back as a reliable big man option.”

The first native of New Zealand to play in the NBA, Marks had career-highs for points (18), blocks (4), steals (2), assists (2), minutes played (36) and games played (60) during the 2008-09 season. The Kiwi started five games last season, averaging 5.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 23.8 minutes.

Hornets trade Rasual Butler to Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers today acquired veteran swingman Rasual Butler and cash from the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for a conditional second round draft pick in 2016.

Acccording to the Los Angeles Times, “the Hornets are expected to save about $8 million with the trade, including Butler’s $3.9-million contract and luxury tax implications. Meanwhile, the Clippers are absorbing his salary, thanks to a $7.3-million trade exception they had after shipping Zach Randolph last month to the Memphis Grizzlies.”

“Today’s move allows us to increase our financial flexibility while at the same time gives us an opportunity to improve at that position,” said Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower. “Due to the depth we have, it will allow us to open up minutes and opportunities for Julian Wright, Morris Peterson and rookie Marcus Thornton, all of whom we anticipate great contributions from this season.”

“We are very excited to add Rasual to our roster,” stated Clippers Head Coach and General Manager Mike Dunleavy. “We believe he is another piece who will help us get back to being a competitive playoff team.”

The seven-year NBA veteran registered his most productive season in 2008-09, averaging 11.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 31.9 minutes while playing in all 82 games (74 starts) for the Hornets. Butler also connected on 40 percent of his field goals and 37 percent of his shots from behind the three-point line last season. In five playoff games for the Hornets in 2009, Butler tallied 10.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest.

Over his career, Butler has tallied 8.3 points and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 40 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range.

Butler was originally drafted out of La Salle University by the Miami Heat in the second round (53rd overall selection) of the 2002 NBA Draft. After three seasons in Miami, Butler was eventually sent to the Hornets on August 2, 2005 as part of a five team, 13 player trade.

The Philadelphia native finished his four-year collegiate career as the fourth-leading scorer (19.1 ppg) in La Salle history and ranked fourth on the Explorers’ all-time three-point field goals made (282 3FGM) list.

InsideHoops.com editor says: This trade saves the Hornets money but makes them a bit worse, while the Clippers improve a bit.

Read fan reaction and post your own comments in this forum topic.

Hornets hire Robert Pack as assistant coach

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that New Orleans Pack has been named an assistant coach for the 2009-10 season.

Pack, 40, joins Byron Scott’s staff after a one-year assistant coach stint with the NBA Developmental League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The Vipers finished 21-29 last season.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to coach in the NBA,” Pack said. “It’s always been my dream and to have the chance to do so in my hometown is something I’m really grateful for. I’m really excited for the season to start and I just have to thank Coach Scott for such a great opportunity.”

Pack played 13 seasons as a point guard in the NBA. During the 2002-03 season, he played in 28 games and had four starts for the Hornets, averaging 5.2 points and 2.9 assists. Pack was a former high school standout at Lawless and played in college at USC.

Nicknamed “Pac-Man”, Pack played for seven different teams during his career—the Hornets, Denver, Portland, New Jersey, Washington, Dallas and Minnesota. Pack holds averages of 8.9 points, 4.6 assists and 2.0 rebounds over 552 career games.

Pack was a member of the 1991-92 Portland team that advanced to the NBA Finals, while with Denver, he was a member of the 1993-94 squad that made NBA history as the first No. 8 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Pack also participated in the 1994 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest in Minneapolis, finishing second in the event.

At USC, Pack finished fourth on the Trojans all-time assists list (319) in just two seaons, while also becoming just the fourth player in school history to record back-to-back 100-assist seasons. He averaged 13.4 points and 5.6 assists per game while at USC. Prior to playing at USC, he played two seasons at Tyler (Texas) Junior College, earning All-State honors, and leading the Apache to a 50-11 combined record.

New Orleans Hornets sign Ike Diogu

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have signed free agent forward Ike Diogu. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released. We’ll post contract info later today.

“We’re excited to have Ike join our team and expect him to help the frontline off the bench this season,” said Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower. “He has shown a lot of potential as an inside scorer and as an effective rebounder.”

Diogu (6-9, 250) holds career averages of 6.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in 187 career games with four teams (Golden State, Indiana, Portland and Sacramento).

During the 2008-09 season, he averaged 4.1 points and 1.9 rebounds per game, playing 29 games for Portland and Sacramento. While with the Kings, Diogu averaged 9.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 14.2 minutes of play over 10 games (one start). He ended the year on a high note, recording a career-high 32 points and 11 rebounds 4/13 at Denver prior to a season-finale performance of 28 points and a career-high-tying 13 rebounds at Minnesota on 4/15.

Diogu was the 9th pick in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Warriors out of Arizona State University. In three seasons as a Sun Devil, Diogu averaged 21.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks over 91 career games (all starts). He was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year as a junior and earned Consensus Second Team All-America honors (the only Sun Devil to ever earn that distinction), while averaging 22.6 points and 9.8 rebounds.Read basketball fan discussion and share your own opinion in this forum topic.

Bobcats trade Emeka Okafor to Hornets for Tyson Chandler

Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has acquired center Tyson Chandler from the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for forward/center Emeka Okafor.

In 197 games over three seasons with New Orleans, the 7-1 Chandler averaged 10.2 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 34.3 minutes, while shooting .611 from the field (829-1356). Chandler, who missed 29 of the team’s final 44 games last season due to left ankle injuries, averaged 8.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 32.1 minutes over 45 games played in 2008-09.

The second overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, Chandler has played in 537 games for Chicago and New Orleans over his eight NBA seasons. Chandler holds career averages of 8.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 28.0 minutes, while shooting .554 from the field (1671-3014).

“We looked at this trade as an opportunity to improve our team,” Higgins said. “Tyson brings that unique level of athleticism in a 7-footer that puts us in a position to compete night in and night out with the other quality centers in the league.”

“Emeka is one of the premier centers in the NBA with All-Star caliber scoring and rebounding averages throughout his career,” said Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower. “His potential to improve is endless once you put him on the court running with Chris Paul. We appreciate what Tyson has done for our club in the past and wish him the best, but our intention this summer was to improve our team and this trade is definitely a positive move in that direction.”

Chandler led the NBA in offensive rebounds in both 2006-07 and 2007-08, ranking second in the league in rebounds per game in 2006-07 and third in rebounds per game in 2007-08. He also ranked second in the NBA in field goal percentage in 2007-08 (.623) and would have led the league at .624 in 2006-07 but fell four field goals short of the statistical minimum to qualify.

Chandler leaves the Hornets as the franchise’s all-time leader in field goal percentage (.611) and rebounds per game (11.3) and ranked fifth in total rebounds despite playing just 197 career games with the team (2,225). He owns the top two single-season marks in both field goal percentage and rebounds.

The Bobcats initially selected Okafor with the second overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, making him the first draft pick in franchise history. The 2004-05 NBA Rookie of the Year, he averaged 14.0 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 34.0 minutes in 330 career games with the Bobcats and is the franchise’s career leader in rebounds, blocked shots and field goal percentage. Okafor averaged 13.2 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 2008-09, playing in all 82 games for the second consecutive season.

“We’d like to thank Emeka for all that he has done for this franchise and for serving as the organization’s ambassador and first-ever draft pick,” Higgins added. “His hard work and dedication to the Charlotte Bobcats will be missed, and we wish him well with his new team.”

The Charlotte Bobcats, who became the NBA’s 30th franchise when they joined the league in 2004-05, enter their sixth season in 2009-10.

Read NBA fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum thread.

Quiet offseason for Hornets

The New Orleans Times-Picayune (Larry Holder) reports (via blog): Hornets point guard Chris Paul wished he had an answer as to why the team has been inactive in the trade arena during the offseason, but he suggested it might not matter. Paul said he has no issues playing with the same roster the team ended with last season. He doesn’t think it will take an additional piece to turn the Hornets’ fortunes around. It’s more of a team attitude adjustment thing in Paul’s opinion. “It wasn’t necessarily that we just needed someone extra, ” Paul said Sunday at a basketball court dedication at Hardin Playground in the 7th Ward. “We just needed something extra as a team. We could have motivated ourselves a little bit more and figured out different things. It’s not necessarily a person.”

Hornets not even thinking of trading Chris Paul

Is it possible that the New Orleans Hornets would consider trading superstar point guard Chris Paul?

Well, lots of things in this world are possible. For example, It’s possible I am going to walk down the street here in Las Vegas into a casino, bet my life savings on Red on a roulette table, close my eyes and hope for the best. But, I’m not going to.

And, the Hornets aren’t going to trade Chris Paul.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports:

In response Friday, Hornets President Hugh Weber said the possibility of them trading Paul is zero.

“There is no chance of him getting traded,” Weber said sternly. “I don’t know how to say it any stronger, but there is just no deal we would contemplate for Chris. I can’t speak for Chris, but I think he was talking about the nature of the business and the fact that the question was asked the way it was.”

“I have not nor will I enter any discussions for him,” Bower said.”(Trading Paul) is not going to happen. I think what Chris said just shows his selflessness that he’s not different than anyone else on the team.”

New Orleans Hornets promote Rob Werdann to assistant coach

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have promoted Rob Werdann to the position of assistant coach. Werdann has spent the last five seasons as an advance scout for the Hornets.

“We’re excited to add Rob to our staff,” said Head Coach Byron Scott. “He has experience as a player in the NBA and has been with this organization for many years. He is an excellent worker with our big guys and I think it is a perfect fit.”

Werdann has coached in the NBA D-League, spending three seasons as an assistant coach for the Columbus Riverdragons. He began his coaching career as an assistant for the Yakima Sun Kings of the CBA, spending the 2000-01 in Yakima.

“I am thrilled for this opportunity,” Werdann said. “I have had the fortune to work for the Hornets as a scout for the past few years and can not wait to join Coach Scott and the staff.”

Werdann was the 46th overall choice of the Denver Nuggets in the 1992 NBA Draft out of St. John’s University. The 6’11” center played in three NBA seasons with the Nuggets and New Jersey Nets.

In college, Werdann played four seasons (1988-92) at St. John’s University under legendary coach Lou Carnesecca. The Sunnyside, Queens native ranks as the school’s all-time leader in blocked shots with 181, despite playing just 12 games his senior season due to a severe calf injury.

While at St. John’s, Werdann made three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, helping the school to a Big East Championship and the NCAA Regional Finals his junior year (1990-91). As a freshman, Werdann played a pivotal role in St. John’s capturing the 1989 NIT Championship.

A well-recruited big man in high school, Werdann earned McDonald’s High School All-American honors his senior season (1988) and was a teammate of former NBA guard Kenny Anderson at Archbishop Molloy High School in New York City.