"Just two days after acquiring one 7-footer via trade, the New Orleans Hornets got another on Friday when free-agent forward Jason Smith agreed to rejoin the team with a three-year, $7.5 million contract. But according to Smith's agent, Mark Bartelstein, it was the attention afforded the 25-year-old Smith last season by the New Orleans coaching staff that convinced Smith that the Hornets were the place he wanted to be despite aggressive recruiting from nearly a dozen other NBA teams.

The move helps fortify the Hornets' front line along with newly acquired 7-foot center Chris Kaman.

"I think he just created such a bond with that coaching staff last year," Bartelstein said of Smith. "I think they put a tremendous amount of time or individual work with him. He felt like his game really improved from the individual work he got with the coaches.

"And that meant a lot to him. He's a young player, who's growing as a player, and wants to keep improving and keep getting better. He thought going back to the Hornets and that staff would give him the best chance to take his game to the next level." "