February 4
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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In what has been a dismal season for the Hornets, DaJuan Summers has been one of few bright spots. A 6-foot-8 swingman, Summers has taken advantage of his playing time and has shown Coach Monty Williams enough to move into a more significant role, starting the past two games at shooting guard. Cracking the starting lineup is something Summers wasn't able to do in his previous two seasons with the Detroit Pistons. Tonight, when the Hornets play the Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Summers will be eager to show his former team what it's missing, after Detroit let him walk away as a free agent during the offseason. "It was a tough situation there because we were loaded at the two, three"
February 4
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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The Hornets are taking center Chris Kaman off the trade market for now and will permit him to return to the team, league sources confirmed Friday afternoon. Kaman will not be with the team for tonight's game at Detroit, but he likely will rejoin the team before Monday night's game against the Sacramento Kings. The Hornets apparently were unable to obtain what they desired in a trade for Kaman, though several teams expressed interest, including the Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors. New Orleans wanted any deal for Kaman to include emerging young talent, draft picks or expiring contracts, sources said. The Hornets (4-19) still plan to listen to"
February 3
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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As the San Antonio Spurs opened the fourth quarter Thursday night with four quick points to take a seven-point lead, the biggest of the game at the time, Hornets forward Jason Smith called his team together after a timeout and implored them to hold it together. "Defense!" Smith yelled. "Defense!" It wasn't enough, as the Spurs blew open what had been a back-and-forth game for three quarters, winning 93-81 over New Orleans, sending the Hornets to their 19th defeat in the past 21 games."
February 2
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Despite entering Wednesday night's game with 17 losses in the past 19 games, the Hornets showed a drive to start off a new month with better execution. They tried, and they achieved their highest scoring first half of the season, but it wasn't enough to save the Hornets from a 120-103 defeat to the Phoenix Suns in front of 13,598 at the New Orleans Arena. Similar to several losses this season, the Hornets lacked a closer down the stretch. When New Orleans (4-18) had a chance to tie the score at 94 with 7:13 remaining, backup point guard Greivis Vasquez missed a layup. After the missed shot, Phoenix went on a 9-0 run that ultimately put the game out of reach."
February 2
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Another day, and another rumored destination for Hornets backup center/forward Chris Kaman, still in limbo and away from the team while New Orleans attempts to negotiate a trade that will satisfy another NBA team and the league office, the de facto team owners. On Wednesday, SI.com was reporting that the Houston Rockets had moved to the front of the suitor line, with various offers of young players and draft picks, apparently the price the Hornets have placed upon any potential deals. Hornets General Manager Dell Demps was unavailable for comment."
February 1
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Nearly one-third of the way through a lockout-shortened NBA season, the going hasn't been easy for the rebuilding Hornets. One week after New Orleans convened for training camp, point guard Chris Paul was shipped off to the West Coast, creating a void in on-court leadership, a vacuum that still has Hornets Coach Monty Williams searching for a voice to which his players can respond. Youth and inexperience will continue to be the calling cards for the team in the short term, and that, Williams said, doesn't lend itself to finding a leadership presence. The hunt continues tonight when the Phoenix Suns (7-13) come to New Orleans Arena."
January 31
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Just so confusion won't reign or even rear its head, Monty Williams made clear after the New Orleans Hornets' 94-72 debacle on Sunday against the Atlanta Hawks what his players already should have known. The New Orleans Hornets are on film, and they're on the clock. A seismic shift will occur with this roster after the season, and hallelujah for that. There should not, and cannot, be a comfort level or sense of security for players on a team that was 4-16 entering Monday's game against the Heat in Miami, regardless of how hard they play or how coachable and likable they are."
January 31
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Still stinging from an embarrassing defeat by one Eastern Conference playoff team Sunday night, the New Orleans Hornets got their only look at the defending conference champion Miami Heat on Monday night at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. One viewing should be sufficient. Despite trailing by 12 points at one juncture of the second quarter, the amazingly athletic Heat put on an 18-4 blitz — 13 of those points coming from the team's heart and soul, Dwyane Wade, then pulled away in the second half, thumping New Orleans 109-95. It was the Hornets 17th loss in the past 19 games."
January 31
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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With the Hornets in town, the buzz was gone. No, this was not the electric atmosphere of Sunday afternoon, when the Miami Heat made a rare regular-season statement with their decision over the Chicago Bulls. Instead, it opened as every bit the struggle of the second night of the Heat's previous two home-and-home back-to-back sets. Languid. Lethargic. Listless. With New Orleans making 10 of its first 11 shots. The difference is unlike those games against the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks, the Heat found their second wind and used it to blow past the West-worst Hornets 109-95 Monday night at AmericanAirlines Arena."
January 30
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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The Hornets are getting inquires from several teams interested in obtaining center Chris Kaman in a trade, according to league sources. Since General Manager Dell Demps said this past Friday they intend to trade Kaman, at least five teams have inquired, including Southwest Division rivals the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets. Kaman will not be with the team until he's traded, Demps said in a statement."
January 30
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Hornets Coach Monty Williams admitted before Sunday night's game he made a mistake by not pushing harder for New Orleans to re-sign shooting guard Willie Green once the NBA lockout ended last December. Green instead signed with Sunday's opponent, the Atlanta Hawks. And Williams could have hoped that the Atlanta training staff wouldn't have been so successful in rehabbing a rolled left ankle that drove Hawks' starting point guard Jeff Teague off the floor in Atlanta's win at Detroit on Friday night."
January 30
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Slow start? Not this time. The Hawks got off to a sizzling beginning against the Hornets – a game they never trailed – en route to a 94-72 victory Sunday. The Hawks fell behind in their past two games, a loss to the Spurs and an overtime win over the Pistons, but they would have none of that in the Big Easy. Except for a second-quarter lull, the Hawks made it look almost too easy."
January 29
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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On the surface, the Hornets, still owned by the NBA, seem to be in a bit of a mess. In December, just days after announcing that the team had surpassed its season-ticket goal of selling 10,000, the Hornets were forced to trade away their singular on-court foundation, four-time All-Star Chris Paul, because of the player's unwillingness to commit to a long-term contract extension and his desire to be part of a winning team. A soap opera surrounded the Paul trade: NBA Commissioner and defacto Hornets owner David Stern, in his role as the head of the team and not the league, vetoed a three-team transaction involving the Rockets and Lakers that would have brought Luis Scola, Kevin Martin and"
January 28
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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There have been times during what has been an agonizingly long short season when the Hornets put together fleeting stretches of solid basketball, a quarter here, a half there, but nothing to match the four quarters of effort on display Friday night in New Orleans Arena. Burdened by a nine-game losing streak and playing against an Orlando team that was coming off a demoralizing loss Thursday night at home to the Boston Celtics in which the Magic blew a 27-point lead, New Orleans strung together arguably its best 48 minutes, routing Orlando 93-67 in front of an announced crowd of 16,176. "Tonight we were consistent," Hornets center Emeka Okafor said. "In other games we've played good in"
January 28
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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New Orleans Hornets shooting guard Eric Gordon said Friday morning it was a mutual decision between him and the franchise to put off trying to get an extension agreement finalized before Wednesday's deadline. Gordon will become a restricted free agent on July 1, and the Hornets General Manager Dell Demps said they will make a push to re-sign him. ``It wasn't that I turned down anything, it works both ways,'' Gordon said. ``Yes, I'll be restricted, but I am just a basketball player right now and the future is unclear. ``All I can do is worry about coming back at this point to try and help the team win games at the end of the year. It's not the best situation, but it's also not the worst. As"
January 28
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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New Orleans Hornets backup center-forward Chris Kaman is not with the team right now because of an organizational decision, team officials said Friday night. The Hornets are expected to pursue trade offers for Kaman, who has an expiring contract that pays him about $14 million this season. Although he is not injured, Kaman was put on the inactive list for Wednesday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder for the first time this season. In place of Kaman, Gustavo Ayon played 17 minutes and scored 16 points on eight-of-10 shooting against the Thunder. ``It's just something that we want to play our young guys and we certainly don't want to disrespect Chris at all,'' Hornets Coach"
January 27
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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As the centerpiece of last month's trade that involved All-Star point guard Chris Paul going to the Los Angeles Clippers, shooting guard Eric Gordon was in the Hornets' long-term plans to emerge as their franchise player. For those plans to continue, the Hornets are going to have to compete with other teams this summer to keep Gordon around after he declined to accept their four-year extension offer before Wednesday's 11 p.m. deadline passed. Gordon, 6 feet 3, 215 pounds, will become a restricted free agent July 1, and General Manager Dell Demps said they are going to make a strong push to re-sign him. "I'm still very optimistic that we will make Eric a big part of our team for years to"
January 27
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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New Orleans Hornets backup forward-center Chris Kaman's playing time could decrease because Coach Monty Williams said he wants to give his younger frontcourt players more of a chance to develop. Although he is not injured, Kaman was put on the inactive list for Wednesday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder for the first time this season. In place of Kaman, Ayon played 17 minutes and scored 16 points on eight-of-10 shooting against the Thunder. Kaman, who will turn 30 this April, is the oldest player on the Hornets' roster. He was acquired in last month's trade with guard Eric Gordon, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and Minnesota' 2012 first-round pick from the Los Angeles Clippers in"
January 26
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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The Times-Picayune's John Reid just tweeted: "Guard Eric Gordon could miss up to six weeks to recover from his knee injury, according to Hornets." Reid is reporting that Gordon will be re-evaluated after three weeks, but the team is prepared for him being out longer."
January 26
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Despite extensive negotiations that lasted right up until Wednesday night's deadline, the Hornets could not reach an extension agreement with guard Eric Gordon, league sources said. Gordon will become a restricted free agent on July 1 and the Hornets can match any offer. The Hornets had to get a deal completed by 11 p.m., central time. Hornets General Manager Dell Demps did not accompanied the team to Oklahoma City so he could negotiate with Gordon's agent, Rob Pelinka."
January 26
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Desiring to give Mexican-born forward Gustavo Ayon more playing time Wednesday night, Hornets Coach Monty Williams put Chris Kaman on the inactive list for the first time this season. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ayon had his best performance of the season with 16 points, but the Hornets couldn't avoid yet another loss — 101-91 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in front of a sellout crowd of 18,203 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. For the first time since the 2004-05 season, the Hornets (3-15) have lost nine consecutive games. It was their sixth loss in eight road games. The last time the Hornets (3-15) enjoyed a victory was Jan. 9 at Denver."
January 25
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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The name of the newly minted Mercedes-Benz Superdome appears to have taken with relative ease among local football fans. But how many basketball fans are prepared to call and watch the Hornets in say, "The Louisiana Seafood Arena Spiced by Zatarain's"? If the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board has its way, the New Orleans Arena could be getting a new name."
January 24
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Unable to win on their homecourt in almost a month, the Hornets blew an opportunity to end the slide against the San Antonio Spurs when forward Carl Landry missed a last-second 3-point attempt just before time expired. It left forward Trevor Ariza shaking his head in disgust and Hornets Coach Monty Williams unable to find relief after suffering a tough 104-102 defeat Monday night in front of 12,599 at the New Orleans Arena."
January 24
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Friday will mark the end of a three-week period of anticipation for the Hornets and injured shooting guard Eric Gordon, who was shut down for that stretch beginning Jan. 6. On Monday, Gordon missed the team's shootaround and did not attend Monday night's 104-102 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, while receiving further examination on his bruised right knee at a location the team did not disclose. The Hornets also would not say what additional tests Gordon was undergoing. He has played just two games this season for New Orleans."
January 23
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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New Orleans Hornets forward Trevor Ariza appeared exasperated, covering his face with his hands after watching his team miss 12 of its first 14 shots taken in the third quarter Saturday night against the Dallas Mavericks at the New Orleans Arena. Ariza and his teammates are feeling the brunt of a seven-game losing streak that has the Hornets (3-13) off to their worst start since the 2004-05 season when they fared 1-14 before finishing with a franchise worst 18-64 record."
January 23
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Going into Monday night's game against the San Antonio Spurs at the New Orleans Arena, the Hornets have lost all five games against Southwest Division opponents. They also have the second longest losing streak in the league right now at seven games. Hornets Coach Monty Williams said the only way to end the slide is to keep working."
January 22
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Growing weary of his out-of-shape inconsistency while battling conditioning and a troublesome right knee, the Dallas Mavericks ruled forward Dirk Nowitzki out for the team's next four games, beginning Saturday night against the New Orleans Hornets. New Orleans could not take advantage of Nowitzki's absence, though. Dallas scored the first 12 points of the third quarter after the score was tied at halftime, and despite overcoming that sluggish start with a 28-point fourth quarter, the Hornets fell short, losing their seventh consecutive game, 83-81 Saturday night in the New Orleans Arena. It was the first win by the Mavs in New Orleans since Dec. 2006, a stretch of 11 games, including three"
January 22
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Growing weary of his out-of-shape inconsistency while battling conditioning and a troublesome right knee, the Dallas Mavericks ruled forward Dirk Nowitzki out for the team's next four games, beginning Saturday night against the New Orleans Hornets. New Orleans could not take advantage of Nowitzki's absence, though. Dallas scored the first 12 points of the third quarter after the score was tied at halftime, and despite overcoming that sluggish start with a 28-point fourth quarter, the Hornets fell short, losing their seventh consecutive game, 83-81 Saturday night in the New Orleans Arena. It was the first win by the Mavs in New Orleans since Dec. 2006, a stretch of 11 games, including three"
January 22
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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It's uncertain when Hornets starting shooting guard Eric Gordon may return, but Coach Monty Williams said doctors are still conducting tests on his bruised right knee. Gordon missed his 10th consecutive game Saturday night against the Dallas Mavericks. "I know some things that I would love to tell you guys that I do know, but I've got to hold on to it for another day or two,'' Williams said. "They are still running tests; we'll know more Monday or Tuesday.'' Gordon said last week that it has been tough sitting out games, but he is sticking to the timetable set by the Hornets' training staff. "I really haven't thought much about it, but it's been tough not being out there,'' Gordon said."
January 21
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Shooting guard Eric Gordon said he's willing to sign a long-term contract extension with the Hornets, who have until Wednesday to make that happen. But as the clock ticks away on that deadline, it's also ticking on the timeline that is keeping Gordon sidelined with a bone bruise in his right knee that has limited the Hornets' leading scorer to just two games this season. The question begs, therefore: have the Hornets seen enough in two games, one of which Gordon made the winning shot, to offer Gordon an extension that would keep him in New Orleans for another four or five years? Or does the team wait until the season ends, and with a new owner in place, then possibly commit its resources"
January 20
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Two rim-outs. That was the difference for the New Orleans Hornets on Thursday night between snapping a four-game losing streak by overcoming a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit, or flying home losers again, this time a gut-wrenching 90-88 overtime loss to the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. The Hornets trailed by 14 points in the second half, but battled to the wire and beyond Thursday night, going on a late 9-0 fourth-quarter run that trimmed the Houston lead to one point with 2 ½ minutes to go in regulation. Jason Smith's potential winner at the fourth-quarter buzzer rimmed out, as did Marco Belinelli's jumper from the top of the key as the overtime expired."
January 19
New Orleans Times-Picayune
columnist John DeShazier
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If the current struggles mean the New Orleans Hornets are going to produce a beautiful bundle of wins in the near future, then the unsightliness and discomfort that are going along with watching their transformation will have been worth it. But as the franchise waits for former lottery buds to bloom into roses, and depends on future lottery coal to turn into diamonds, New Orleans in 2011-12 has been a team whose calling card has been injuries and losses. And with all due respect to that ray-of-hope-for-the-future thing, it would be nice to have a little sunshine to wrap the arms around this winter inside the New Orleans Arena."
January 19
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Coming off their lowest point total of season, the Hornets got some much needed help Wednesday night with the return of starting small forward Trevor Ariza, who had missed the past eight games with a groin strain. But even with Ariza on the floor, the Hornets still committed too many turnovers and had no closer down the stretch in a 93-87 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in front of 12,045 at the New Orleans Arena."
January 19
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Marc Gasol had five assists and four rebounds before he even scored a point. The Grizzlies' do-all center then scored all of his 22 points through three quarters. And when the final period called for tighter defense and clutch rebounds, Gasol put himself in that mode with blinders on. Look no further than Gasol as the poster child for the Grizzlies' selfless play as of late. His season-high point total, 12 rebounds and seven assists Wednesday night helped steer the Grizzlies' to their fourth straight win — a 93-87 victory over the never-say-die New Orleans Hornets. But Gasol couldn't have cared less about his statistical line as he stood in the visitors' locker room at New Orleans Arena."
January 19
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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After missing eight games because of a strained right groin, small forward Trevor Ariza returned to the starting lineup for the Hornets on Wednesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies at the New Orleans Arena. He wasted no time reasserting himself, putting up season-high numbers almost across the board while playing a team-high 40 minutes. Ariza had 18 points, seven assists, four steals — all season highs — and five rebounds in the Hornets' 93-87 loss to the Grizzlies. "None of that really matters to me," Ariza said. "We lost the ball game. We're struggling right now. All I really care about is winning.""
January 18
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Since a dismal performance last week against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Hornets forward Carl Landry's playing time and production on the court have steadily declined. Though he rarely criticizes players in public, New Orleans Coach Monty Williams said he hasn't seen the effort typically given by Landry, who was vital in the team's playoff push last season after former Hornets forward David West suffered a season-ending knee injury. Despite being on a four-game losing streak going into tonight's game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the New Orleans Arena, it appears until Landry gives the effort that Williams expects, he will continue to spend more time on the bench than on the floor."
January 18
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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New Orleans Hornets starting small forward Trevor Ariza went through his first full-scaled practice on Tuesday since suffering a groin strain in a Jan. 2 game against Utah. Hornets Coach Monty Williams said he will probably make a decision before Wednesday night's game against Memphis to determine if Ariza plays. "We'll see how he reacts,'' Williams said. "I'm just waiting to talk to (trainer Jon Ishop) to see if it's Ok.''"
January 17
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Center Chris Kaman sat slumped in his chair in the New Orleans Hornets' locker room Monday afternoon, trying to figure out why they are committing too many turnovers and not making enough shots to give themselves a chance. After committing 19 turnovers and shooting less than 40 percent for most of the game, the Hornets lost to the Portland Trail Blazers 84-77 in a Martin Luther King Day matinee game in front of 14,758 at the New Orleans Arena."
January 17
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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New Orleans Hornets shooting guard Eric Gordon made the next cut of players in contention to represent the U.S. men's basketball team at the London Olympic Games this summer. Gordon, a member of the U.S. team that won the 2010 FIBA world championships in Instanbul, Turkey, was one of 20 players whose names were revealed as Team USA finalists Monday by USA Basketball. Gordon, however, said Monday the bone bruise that has kept him out of all but two games this season will probably keep him sidelined for the entire two- to three-week rest period that began Jan. 6."
January 16
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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In two seasons with the Detroit Pistons, DaJuan Summers could never do enough to set himself apart in the team's rotation. Unable to beat out forwards Tayshaun Prince or Austin Daye, Summers mostly played limited minutes before the Pistons broke ties with him after declining to tender a qualifying offer this past June, making him a free agent. But since finding a new home with the New Orleans Hornets last month, Summers, 6 feet 8 and 240 pounds, is playing his best ball since leaving Georgetown in 2009."