[TimesPicayune] Wesley getting ready to work
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Wesley getting ready to work
Guard will try to ward off another challenge
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
By John Reid
Staff writer
David Wesley paced the court and spoke loudly, so the
325 kids at the Hornets' basketball clinic Monday at
the Alario Center could hear him.
Wesley, the team's starting shooting guard, was asked
about Shaquille O'Neal and if Wesley would trade star
point guard Baron Davis for the Lakers' star, Kobe
Bryant. Wesley made his quickest response to that
question: "I wouldn't want to see Baron get traded for
anyone," he said.
Wesley had plenty to offer, but his most important
message wasn't about players in the league. It was to
let the kids know that no matter how tall, short or
talented they may be -- to keep working.
It's not only a message that Wesley frequently speaks
about, he lives by it. He said his ability to outwork
players has kept him in the league for the past 11
seasons, and has helped him overcome competitive
challenges for his starting job the past two seasons.
"Every year it's another person and another situation,"
Wesley said Monday. "I'm here, and I don't want to go
anywhere else. I don't want to come off the bench. But
if they outplay me and I end up coming off the bench,
that makes us a better team.
"I'm going to work to keep my job as long as I am here.
Whoever takes it is going to have to work his . . . off."
When training camp begins in October, Wesley will be
facing his most competitive battle for his job since he
joined the Hornets for the 1997-98 season.
For the past two training camps, he competed against
Courtney Alexander, who missed the entire 2003-04
regular season after rupturing his Achilles' tendon in
a preseason game.
This season, Wesley could be competing against four
players. Hornets coach Byron Scott wants to build his team
around young and athletic players who can run with Davis.
They now have several players on the roster capable of
playing that style.
The team used its selections in the June draft on two
shooting guards: high school player J.R. Smith, who was
selected in the first round, and Tim Pickett, who played
two seasons at Florida State.
Earlier this month, the Hornets signed restricted free agent
Morris Peterson, who plays shooting guard and small forward,
to an offer sheet. The Hornets are waiting to see if the
Toronto Raptors will match their offer. Toronto general
manager Rob Babcock said a decision will be made by team's the
board of directors by Friday as to whether the Raptors will
match the offer sheet the Hornets extended to Peterson.
Babcock said he will recommend the board to match the
three-year, $15 million offer. If Toronto does match the offer,
the Hornets are likely to pursue another free agent who can
play shooting guard and small forward.
Hornets general manager Allan Bristow said the Hornets will make
a decision next month on whether to re-sign Alexander, who
continues to recover from his injury.
"There is an unknown, like what's going to happen and what's
going to be expected," Wesley said. "But I'm going to be at
practice every day, and competition is what I like."
Bristow said he hopes Smith and Pickett can learn from watching
how hard Wesley works.
"At this point in his career, he should take pride that there
are a lot of younger players coming in who he can lead and be
a big part of their development," Bristow said.
Wesley is coming off one of his most disappointing seasons,
mainly caused by a sprained left big toe that forced him to
miss 20 games. In the playoffs against the Miami Heat, he
played with a sore right big toe after injuring it during the
final week of the regular season.
Wesley's 14-point scoring average was his lowest since the
1999-00 season, when he averaged 13.6.
At the end of last season, Wesley was rumored to be one of the
players the Hornets were going to leave unprotected for the
expansion draft. But the team protected Wesley.
"He has the quality that it takes in order to be a pro," Bristow
said. "He's had a terrific career, and he's done a marvelous job
of really being one of the most consistent players in Hornets
history. He's always in great shape and he has very little
wasted motion when he's on the floor. He's going to put his
energy into making something positive happen."
After Wesley spoke and posed for pictures during the morning
session of the Hornets' basketball clinic Monday, he worked out
in the team's weight room.
"The one thing I can say about the Hornets is that this is the
first situation in my basketball career where I felt they came
and got me," he said. "Aand for the last seven years, I'm still
the same person, and I couldn't be more happier with my situation.
From talking to Coach Scott, a lot is going to be expected. So
I'm preparing to give a lot."
. . . . . . .
John Reid can be reached at jreid@timespicayune.com or at (504) 826-3405.
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