[外電] Hornets sign forward Freije
原文出自nola.com
http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/110093911761770.xml
Hornets sign forward Freije
Drafted rookie Pickett waived to make room
Saturday, November 20, 2004
By John Reid
Staff writer
With the Hornets off to their worst start in franchise history,
General Manager Allan Bristow scrambled to fill one of the
team's needs, signing free-agent forward Matt Freije on Friday
as a backup frontcourt player.
Freije, the 53rd pick in last June's NBA draft, was released
by the Miami Heat last Sunday. Bristow had contacted several
teams in hopes of finding a backup frontcourt player with
outside shooting ability. At 6 feet 10, 249 pounds, Freije
is big enough to play both forward spots and possibly center.
"Matt will be able to help our team," Bristow said. "We worked
him out prior to the draft, and we know that his skills and
size will help fill a role."
To make room on its roster, New Orleans released shooting guard
Tim Pickett, who was Hornets' second-round pick -- the 44th
overall -- in last June's draft. Pickett, who played at Florida
State, had struggled to learn Coach Byron Scott's system since
the start of last month's training camp.
"I loved Tim and his personality, but obviously it didn't work
out," said Scott, who did not rule out the possibility of
inviting Pickett back to next season's training camp. "He
didn't learn the system the way I would have liked. This was
more of a numbers game because we needed to get bigger. I was
wearing out (forward) P.J. Brown in practice and playing him
a lot of minutes in games."
Freije averaged 18.4 points last season and was first-team
all-SEC at Vanderbilt, and he is the school's career-leading
scorer with 1,891 points.
Freije had been on the injured list for Miami since the start
of the season with an upper respiratory infection, but that's
no longer a problem.
With the Heat, Freije was expected to have a difficult time
earning minutes behind a frontcourt that includes Shaquille
O'Neal, Rasual Butler and Udonis Haslem.
The Hornets' initially made contact with Freije's agent Tuesday
while he was driving from Miami to Nashville, Tenn.
"I was all bummed that I would have to take a CBA (Continental
Basketball Association) or NBDL (National Basketball
Developmental League) job," said Freije, who signed a one-year
deal with the Hornets. "I was driving through Georgia when my
agent called.
"Hopefully, I've found a new home. I think shooting is one thing
that I can do. I'm not going to get down low and bang anybody.
I'm going to step out and try to shoot some jumpers. Hopefully,
I'm able to contribute to the team in some way. We'll see where
it goes."
The Hornets put Freije through a tryout Friday morning before
offering him a contract. Scott said he was impressed. Afterward,
at practice, Freije also showed several times that can he make
perimeter shots.
"I told Allan right away I like the kid," Scott said. "He has
great foot work, really can shoot the ball and got a real feel
on how to play."
Despite apparently strengthening their bench, the Hornets still
face a difficult challenge tonight when they play the Minnesota
Timberwolves, who are led by last season's league MVP, Kevin
Garnett.
On Nov. 6, the Timberwolves defeated Hornets 99-92 at the Target
Center in Minneapolis as Garnett scored a game-high 29 points
and grabbed 15 rebounds.
In Wednesday's 95-84 loss to Phoenix at New Orleans Arena, which
dropped the Hornets to 0-7, Suns center Amare Stoudemire did
just about anything he wanted against center Jamaal Magloire.
Stoudemire, getting dunks and other shots in the post, scored
a career-high 38 points.
Scott said he hopes his players can force the ball away from
Garnett and keep him from matching what Stoudemire did.
. . . . . . .
John Reid can be reached at jreid@timespicayune.com
or (504) 826-3405
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