[TimesPicayune] 'Tractor' Traylor leaving N.O. for Cavaliers, e
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'Tractor' Traylor leaving N.O. for Cavaliers, ex-coach Silas
Backup cites chance to start as reason
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
By John Reid
Staff writer
Robert "Tractor" Traylor, one of the Hornets' most popular
players, will sign a one-year deal later this week with the
Cleveland Cavaliers, Traylor and his agent, Andre Colona,
said Monday night.
"I'm really going to miss my fans in New Orleans, because
I had a really great time there," Traylor said from his home
in Detroit. "But I think it's going to be a great situation
for me in Cleveland."
Colona said one of the primary factors that swayed Traylor
was an opportunity to compete for a starting spot at power
forward. Traylor also said he was familiar with Cavaliers
coach Paul Silas, who coached him for two seasons with the
Hornets. Silas' contract was not renewed by the Hornets
after the 2002-03 season when they failed to advance past
the first round of the playoffs against the Philadelphia
76ers.
Traylor, who played three seasons with the Hornets, was a
popular player in part because of his chest bumps with
teammates before games at New Orleans Arena, and he was one
of the biggest players on the team at 284 pounds.
Last season under former Hornets coach Tim Floyd, Traylor
averaged 13.3 minutes in 71 games as a backup center and
power forward.
"We tried to do everything we could to keep Tractor here,
and it didn't work out," Hornets coach Byron Scott said.
"He wanted to go to Cleveland, because he feels he's got a
better chance to playing more consistent minutes. You can't
fault the guy for that, but I thought he would play just as
many minutes here as there. But like I said, it didn't work
out, and we wish him the best."
Negotiations between Traylor's agent and the Hornets stalled
more than a week ago, before the Cavaliers emerged as the
front-runner ahead of the Phoenix Suns.
Meanwhile, guard Stacey Augmon, who played the past three
seasons with the Hornets, signed a free-agent deal to join
the Orlando Magic. The Hornets did not have any extensive
negotiations to re-sign Augmon.
The Hornets' top priority in free agency remains to sign a
small forward. The Hornets had signed Morris Peterson to a
three-year, $15 million offer sheet to play small forward and
shooting guard, but the Toronto Raptors matched the offer to
retain him last week.
"I don't think we have to make a big splash. We've been
committed to trying to make our team better," Scott said. "We
tried to do some things to do that. Some of those things
haven't panned out the way we would have liked, but we've been
very active all summer long.
"That's one of the things we talked about doing, and we've done
that. Do we think it's been a bad summer for us? No. I think
we've done everything possible to make our team better. We still
have some time and some money, and we're still going to pursue
some of the other options that we have. Right now, I think our
effort has been an A, but if you gave us an overall grade it
would probably be a C-plus."
The Hornets only free agent signee is backup center Chris
Andersen.
"The three position (small forward) is something of a concern
for us and a crucial part of our plans," Scott said. "We don't
know the (Jamal) Mashburn situation, and we have George (Lynch)
at that position but nobody else. I know I can play the rookie
(J.R. Smith) back there, but the one thing you want to do with
a young player like that is bring him in and put him at one
position, so he can learn it and feel comfortable."
Scott said the Hornets' backcourt is an area they don't need to
be concerned about with point guard Baron Davis, backup point
guards Darrell Armstrong and Alex Garcia, shooting guard David
Wesley, Smith and second-round draft pick Tim Pickett.
It remains uncertain whether the Hornets will pursue restricted
free agent shooting guard Courtney Alexander, who missed the
2003-04 season after rupturing his Achilles' tendon in a
preseason game.
Alexander, contacted by telephone Monday at his home in Atlanta,
said he has recovered fully and plans to work out for several
teams later this month. He said the Hornets are likely to be
among the teams attending the workout.
"My eyes are still on New Orleans, but my options are definitely
open," Alexander said. "I am at about 100 percent right now, so
I'm looking forward to getting back out there. Its been a tough
year, but I'm thankful to be able to play again, and I have to
see how everything plays itself out."
NOTE: Scott said Mashburn will take a second MRI on his injured
right knee later this month to determine whether he has
made any progress. Mashburn said his knee has continued to
swell since he reinjured it during a game in March.
. . . . . . .
John Reid can be reached at jreid@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3405.
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