Ike Diogu signs with Hornets

[Lamar Doom]

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’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.”

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=4640

[TMT]

It's about time the Hornets realize that Hilton Armstrong, Ryan Bowen, Sean Marks, and Melvin Ely aren't going to get the job done. They are finally going after some young, better bigs.

[Lamar Doom]

analysis- not a major move in the scheme of things but it adds another much needed big body, a legit big man at 6'9" 250. Okafor feels more like a PF to me but I guess we're to assume he starts at center and the big easy d-weezy (david west) plays the 4. Diogu still might have some upside if he can find his way, seems like there will be plenty of minutes for him with the only other "big man" bench players being Hilton Armstrong and Melvin Ely.

edit- god love Ryan Bowen, one of the few I-hawks to make a career in the association. When Ryan retires we'll be down to Reggie Evans, Ricky Davis, and Don Nelson for active hawkeyes.

[DuMa]

ike's the man

[Grinder]

Diogu isn't a legit center, he's a scoring 6'8" power forward with a good low post game and decent mid range jumper. He's still got a lot of potential, well see of he can figure it out.

[BlazersDozen]

Ike is a beast IMO

He has a decent mid range game, good post game and a good rebounder especially for his size.

Great pick up and great fit next to Okafor. (I know David West is the starter but Diogu will get time next to Okafor also.)

[LAClipsFan33]

ike's the man

Ike's my role model

[Grinder]

Lol, good to see you edited the post.

He's 6'6.5" without shoes, actually undersized for the power forward spot too.

[LAClipsFan33]

Ike was totally unstoppable at Arizona State. I'm rooting for him to get comfortable somewhere and find his rhythm again.

[reppy]

After he was traded, I think I remember reading a local columnist, maybe in The Columbian (a paper in SW Washington) talking about how he had all this unrealized potential because he was so lazy and refused to work hard.

[AK 3K]

Solid big if he can find a place in the rotation..

[gotbacon23]

he never gets minutes; i don't know enough about him to know why- but i have seen that he can score. he has only played 24+ minutes 20 times in his 4 year career. in those 20 games he has averaged:

29.5 mpg 56% fg 81% ft 15.6 ppg 7.9 rpg.

maybe the hornets found themselves a good player?

[boozehound]

"breaky noose" is kind of like that old joke about what time the chinaman goes to the dentist, when his "tooth hurty" (2:30)


ESPN- Sources: Hornets Close In On Deal With Ike Diogu

ah, my second favorite chinaman joke.

I dont really see this being all that for the NOH. Ike had not been able to stay on the court on any of the teams hes been on (which have all had a need for a player like him). I dont see that changing.

[Lamar Doom]

Lol, good to see you edited the post.

He's 6'6.5" without shoes, actually undersized for the power forward spot too.

yeah, i don't know why i thought he was 6'11". i think maybe i was mixing him up with bender or something, they were both pacer prospects around the same time. anyways, yeah, he's listed at 6'9" and that's usually padded. my little google search led me to find out that he has a 7'4" wingspan and he was born on 9-11 which likely makes him a terrorist

[Twiens]

Ike's a beast, he'll break out somewhere. I remember I wanted the lakers to take him #10 in the bynum draft.