[TimesPicayune] Raptors match Hornets' offer, keep Peterson
http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/109117794657120.xml
Raptors match Hornets' offer, keep Peterson
Traylor's days in N.O. coming to an end?
Friday, July 30, 2004
By John Reid
Staff writer
A not so good offseason got worse for the Hornets on Thursday
when they found out they won't be able to sign restricted free
agent Morris Peterson, and they might lose forward Robert
Traylor.
The Toronto Raptors said Thursday they will retain Peterson by
matching the Hornets' three-year, $15 million offer.
The Raptors will make the announcement today after General
Manager Rob Babcock meets with the team's board of directors.
"The Mo Peterson deal is dead," Hornets general manager Allan
Bristow said. "We will proceed and continue to evaluate all
players that can fill in at the (small forward) spot."
Sources close to the negotiations said that Traylor, who has
been with the Hornets for three years, is considering offers
from the Phoenix Suns and the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team he
played for in the 2000-2001 season. It appears the Cavaliers,
coached by former Hornets coach Paul Silas, is the front-runner.
Traylor and his agent, Andre Colona, could not be reached for
comment.
Bristow said the Raptors informed him of their decision to keep
Peterson Thursday, though publicly Babcock said that nothing is
official yet.
Soon after the Hornets' extended their offer to Peterson, Babcock
said he would recommend to the board that Peterson, a four-year
veteran, be retained.
Peterson, who is 6 feet 7 and can play shooting guard and small
forward, was the Raptors' first-round draft pick in 2000.
Last season, Peterson struggled under former Raptors coach Kevin
O'Neill's defense-oriented style of play, averaging a career-low
8.3 points.
But Babcock likes what Peterson potentially can bring to their
team this season. And new coach Sam Mitchell brings to Toronto an
up-tempo style of play that could be a better fit for Peterson.
"He can shoot, push the ball up the court and is a good rebounder,"
Babcock said.
Had Peterson, 26, come to New Orleans, he was expected to help
the Hornets with his strengths as an outside shooter and with his
athleticism in running the floor.
Hornets coach Byron Scott is trying to build a young and athletic
team that can run with star point guard Baron Davis.
"It was a logjam up there at that spot, and we felt like we had a
shot at it, but I think they realize the same thing we did -- that
Mo Peterson is a good player," Bristow said.
Free agents were allowed to begin signing contracts July 14. Though
Peterson signed an offer sheet two days later, backup center Chris
Andersen remains the Hornets' only new addition through free agency.
Andersen signed a two-year deal when the Denver Nuggets renounced
their rights to match the Hornets' offer after obtaining power
forward Kenyon Martin in a trade with the New Jersey Nets.
Earlier this month, the Hornets were unsuccessful in their attempt
to sign shooting guard Stephen Jackson, whom they had targeted as
their top choice.
The Hornets offered a six-year deal, estimated at $38 million.
Jackson re-signed with the Atlanta Hawks, agreeing to a six-year,
$44 million deal, and then was traded to the Indiana Pacers in
exchange for forward Al Harrington.
The Hornets also lost a bidding war with the Miami Heat for
free-agent center Michael Doleac, who said the prospect of playing
with Shaquille O'Neal prompted him to turn down the Hornets' offer.
. . . . . . .
John Reid can be reached at jreid@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3405.
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 218.166.77.98
Pelicans 近期熱門文章
PTT體育區 即時熱門文章