[TimesPicayune] Hornets add forward Nailon to bolster scoring,
http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/109661276990090.xml
Hornets add forward Nailon to bolster scoring, depth
Free agent guard Harrington also signs
Friday, October 01, 2004
By John Reid
Staff writer
General Manager Allan Bristow wanted the Hornets to
head into training camp next week with some experienced
free agents on the roster. He didn't mind adding one
already familiar to most of the veterans on the team.
Lee Nailon, who played for the Hornets during the 2000-01
and 2001-02 seasons, rejoined the team Thursday after
agreeing to a contract.
The Hornets also signed free agent point guard Junior
Harrington, who averaged 5.1 points and 3.0 rebounds with
the Denver Nuggets during the 2002-03 season.
The Hornets have 19 players on their roster, and Bristow
said there is a possibility they could sign one more free
agent. NBA rules limit a team's training camp to a maximum
of 20 players. Only 12 can make the final roster, plus up
to three players on the injured list.
On Wednesday, the Hornets signed free agents Sean Finn,
Tremaine Fowlkes, Britton Johnsen and Nate Williams.
"We're still hoping to add another player, but we have to
wait and see how things play out," Bristow said.
Nailon, 6 feet 9, is expected to bolster the Hornets' depth
and offense at small forward because he is a capable jump
shooter, particularly from mid-range.
During the 2001-02 season, when starting small forward Jamal
Mashburn missed half of the regular season with a lower
abdominal strain injury, Nailon started 41 games and averaged
15 points and five rebounds.
"He's familiar with a lot of our players, and we look for him
to bring us some toughness and compete for a roster spot,"
Bristow said. "He brings experience to the table."
For Nailon, it's a chance for a fresh start. He played for
three teams last season, the Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic
and Cleveland Cavaliers. He played in 57 games and averaged
six points and 2.5 rebounds. With the Cavaliers, where he
played for former Hornets coach Paul Silas, Nailon averaged
7.7 points in 22 games.
Nailon was waived by the Hornets before the start of their
inaugural season in New Orleans in 2002. The New York Knicks
eventually signed Nailon, and he played in 38 games and
averaged 7.7 points.
Nailon was the Hornets' second-round draft pick in 1999. He
played in the Italian League before signing a contract with
the Hornets for the 2000-01 season.
"This is the team where I started, so hopefully this is where
I can finish," Nailon said. "It's always good to come back to
your old teammates, where everybody knows you.
"Hopefully I can show my talent and just keep improving to
help the team win," Nailon said. "I didn't think I was going
to end up back here, but everything happens for a reason."
NOTE: Single-game tickets for all 2004-05 Hornets home games
will go on sale at 10 a.m. Oct. 9. Tickets are available in
the $10, $26, $41, $51, $76, $120, $135.50 and $218.50 price
categories for all games. Tickets can be purchased at the
New Orleans Arena Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations,
by calling the NBA phone center at 1-800-4NBA-TIX or online
at Hornets.com or Ticketmaster.com. Tickets priced at $7 will
be sold at noon on every game day at the box office.
. . . . . . .
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: 140.117.190.7
Pelicans 近期熱門文章
PTT體育區 即時熱門文章
65
140
-4
11
