February 12
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Since suffering a concussion in last week's game against the Detroit Pistons, Hornets forward Jason Smith said he's undergone a battery of examinations by doctors. But there remains no timetable on his return, though he missed three consecutive games. ``I just got to take it day by day, it's something you can't rush,'' Smith said after Friday night's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. ``If it was an ankle or knee, you can get back 85 percent or 90 percent. With this, you don't want to miss around.I've had the typical concussion symptoms.''"
February 12
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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With the Hornets already trailing by 13 points in the first quarter against the Chicago Bulls last week, Coach Monty Williams tried to keep his composure after watching center Chris Kaman turn over the ball. But after hastily calling a timeout, Williams could not hold back. He raised his voice as Kaman briefly tried to explain what happened as he walked toward the bench. Shortly after that miscue, Hornets backup shooting guard Xavier Henry made another turnover when he forced a behind-the-back pass that was stolen by C.J. Watson, leading to another Bulls fast-break basket. As Henry ran downcourt, Williams glared at him, but didn't say a word. The Hornets went on to score a season-low 67"
February 11
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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For the Hornets, and the announced crowd of 14,421 who witnessed the scoring explosion from Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard Jamal Crawford, it was a bittersweet reminder of what might have been. Call it the one who got away. Crawford, who signed as a free agent with the Trail Blazers on Dec. 15, scored a season-high 31 points in helping Portland overtake the stubborn Hornets 94-86 Friday night at the New Orleans Arena. Crawford scored 20 points in the second half, including a run overlapping the third and fourth quarters in which he scored 14 of the Trail Blazers' 16 points, as Portland rallied to take the lead for the first time since the opening minutes of the game. Last December,"
February 10
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Nearly one week after sustaining a concussion from a pair of blows to the head in a loss to the Detroit Pistons, New Orleans Hornets starting power forward Jason Smith is scheduled to be re-examined on Friday as part of the NBA's new concussion policy. Smith has been away from the team all week, protocol mandated by the newly implemented concussion program. "I'd much rather have him here because his spirit and who he is, he's been our natural leader this year," Coach Monty Williams said Thursday following practice at the Alario Center. "I miss having him around."
February 10
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Aside from the fact that Wednesday night's horror show at the New Orleans Arena presented evidence of one team's top-to-bottom depth and the other's lack of the same, the Chicago Bulls' runaway victory over the Hornets also put on display the importance of continuity and repetition to an NBA team's execution. Hornets Coach Monty Williams has admitted that this season he has been forced to scale back his offensive playbook, for the simple reason that the roster he has had to work with isn't yet capable of assimilating and executing what last season's team did. As he prepared to face the Bulls, the team with the best record in the NBA, Williams was noticing how Coach Tom Thibodeau had"
February 9
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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The experts already have declared the upcoming NBA draft will be a deep one, full of talented players, gushing with potential, perhaps possessing a franchise changer or three. But they haven't yet identified this year's Derrick Rose. There's no consensus on whom, if anyone, is the singular player that teams are crossing fingers and loading up on good-luck charms to draft."
February 9
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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After missing three consecutive games with a sore left knee, New Orleans Hornets point guard Jarrett Jack returned to the starting lineup Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls. Jack participated in the morning shootaround, but the team didn't announce Jack would start until just before tipoff. Even with Jack on the floor, the Hornets struggled offensively in a 90-67 loss to the Chicago Bulls at the New Orleans Arena. They didn't make their first shot until nearly four minutes into the game, after Coach Monty Williams had to call a timeout to set up a designated play for center Emeka Okafor. The Hornets trailed 31-17 in the second quarter."
February 8
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Searching for a ray of sunshine in what has been an overcast season for the New Orleans Hornets, one need look no further than the list of the NBA's leaders in field-goal percentage. Sitting in the eighth spot, converting 53.6 percent from the field, is New Orleans center Emeka Okafor, the only player who has started every game for the Hornets this season."
February 8
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Facing a close-of-business Tuesday deadline to make a decision, the New Orleans Hornets waived guard Carldell "Squeaky" Johnson, a New Orleans native, and guard/forward DaJuan Summers to avoid having to guarantee their contracts for the rest of the season. It's possible the team could re-sign both players in 48 hours when they clear waivers. Both players could be re-signed to 10-day contracts, twice, before a decision would have to be made whether to keep them for the rest of the season or let them go."
February 8
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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After missing the last three games with a sore left knee, New Orleans Hornets point guard Jarrett Jack could be closer to returning to the starting lineup, Coach Monty Williams said Tuesday. Williams said Jack participated in the team's practice session Tuesday at the Alario Center and seemed to be moving well. The Hornets host the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night in New Orleans Arena, featuring arguably the league's best point guard and reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose."
February 7
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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After missing the last three games with a sore left knee, New Orleans Hornets point guard Jarrett Jack could be closer to returning to the starting lineup, Coach Monty Williams said Tuesday. Williams said Jack participated in the team's practice session Tuesday at the Alario Center and seemed to be moving well. The Hornets host the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night in New Orleans Arena, featuring arguably the league's best point guard and reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose. "He had a good workout today and we'll see how he feels (Wednesday)," Williams said of Jack. "We certainly need him. I'm playing (backup) Greivis (Vasquez) way too many minutes for my liking. I think from this point forward,"
February 7
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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With the season more than a third completed, Hornets Coach Monty Williams has seen his team blow its share of leads, turn the ball over at critical times and lose games on a regular basis. With only 10 available players because of injuries to guard Jarrett Jack (sore left knee), forward Carl Landry (second degree MCL sprain), forward-guard DaJuan Summers (knee swelling) and forward Jason Smith (concussion), Williams didn't catch a break Monday night against the Sacramento Kings."
February 7
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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There are questions that must be asked, and legitimate inquiries that the franchise must pose to itself, while we watch the Hornets in their current state and wait for improvement. Is there an impact NBA veteran who would look at the Hornets today and say he wants to play for this franchise? Is there a rising young talent — including current Hornet Eric Gordon, who apparently is nursing the worst bruised knee in the long history of bruised knees, and will have a career in acting (he has the Invisible Man down pat) if he chooses to leave basketball — who is willing to lay it on the line for New Orleans?"
February 6
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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While declining to discuss the specifics of the last two weeks during which he was exiled from the New Orleans Hornets while the team attempted to trade him, reserve swingman Chris Kaman said Monday he had no issues with the way things have transpired. Kaman rejoined the Hornets at practice on Sunday after being told on Jan. 27 to stay away from the club as it tried to negotiate a deal elsewhere. The team announced in a press release on Saturday that Kaman would rejoin the club since a trade could not be finalized. "You know what, it wasn't a big issue," Kaman said. " I was asked to leave; I think they thought they might have had a trade or something. I'm not sure. I don't know the"
February 6
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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During a critical stretch in Saturday night's loss at Detroit, Hornets point guard Greivis Vasquez was forced to dribble to the right side of the court. Trying to make a play, Vasquez didn't see Pistons guard Walker Russell come up from behind to quickly tip the ball away before making an uncontested layup that extended Detroit's lead to 79-74 with 3:48 remaining. Shortly after Vasquez's turnover, second-year Hornets forward Al-Farouq Aminu committed another. The Hornets went on to commit four of their 15 total turnovers in the fourth quarter, and they went a 3 1/2-minute stretch without scoring that led to their 89-87 loss. The Hornets (4-20) have lost 13 of 14 games because they cannot"
February 6
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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In a posting on his Twitter account Sunday afternoon, New Orleans Hornets backup forward Carl Landry said he sustained a Grade 2 sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his left leg in Saturday night's loss to the Detroit Pistons. "Grade 2 MCL sprain.... I'll be back out there on the court playing the game I love as soon as I can..." Landry said in the Tweet. According to several internet medical websites, recovery time from a Grade 2 MCL sprain can be beween two to four weeks."
February 5
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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New Orleans Hornets center Chris Kaman will participate in his first practice with the team on Sunday after general manager Dell Demps decided to take him off the trade market Friday. 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. "For a number of reasons, including the team's decision to give more time to younger players, we had thought it best for Chris to work out on his own at the Alario Center as"
February 5
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Hornets Coach Monty Williams kept his locker-room door shut for more than 15 minutes after Saturday night's game against the Detroit Pistons. When it finally opened, players sat in front of their locker stalls, all showing the same disappointing glare that has been noticeable for more than a month. Despite all the game-planning and motivational talks, the Hornets stumbled again in the fourth quarter Saturday and suffered a humiliating 89-87 defeat to the Pistons in front 13,174 at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons (6-20) appeared to be the ideal opponent for the Hornets (4-20) to end a five-game road losing streak. Detroit had lost seven of their past eight before Friday night's"
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."