August 2, 2005
Hornets Agree To Terms With Nachbar And Macijauskas
New Orleans - The New Orleans Hornets announced that they have re-signed free agent forward Bosjtan Nachbar and have signed free agent guard Arvydas Macijauskas. Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not released.
“Signing Bostjan and Arvydas today dramatically improves our team,” said Hornets General Manager Allan Bristow. “Adding them to our roster gives us an immediate boost in scoring and outside shooting, two areas we needed to address this offseason.”
Nachbar, a three-year NBA veteran, holds career averages of 5.1 points and 2.0 rebounds in 130 NBA games. He was originally acquired by the Hornets along with Jim Jackson from Houston in exchange for David Wesley on December 27, 2004. The native of Slovenia enjoyed his best season as a pro in 2004-05, posting career highs in every statistical category and averaging 7.0 points and 2.6 rebounds in 71 games with Houston and New Orleans. Nachbar lifted his averages to 8.1 points and 2.8 rebounds in his 55 games with the Hornets and led the team in three-point field goal percentage at .371 (65-175)
“Re-signing Bostjan was one of our main objectives this summer,” added Bristow. “He showed us a great deal of potential in the 55 games he played for us and we are looking forward to helping him continue to develop and play a larger role for us.”
Nachbar was originally drafted by Houston with the 15th overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. He averaged 2.1 points in 14 games as a rookie for the Rockets and 3.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in 45 games in 2003-04. Nachbar recently returned from China, where he participated in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program in Beijing along with former teammate Yao Ming. The program consists of basketball instructional camps for kids that promote leadership, education, sportsmanship and healthy living.
Macijauskas joins the Hornets after playing the first nine years of his professional career overseas. Last season, the Lithuanian native was named to the All-Euroleague First Team while playing with Tau Vitoria in Spain. Macijauskas averaged 16.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg and 1.9 apg while shooting .569 (127-233) from the field, .426 (98-230 from three-point range and .902 (138-153) from the free throw line.
“Arvydas had one of the best shooting touches I’ve seen in a long time and we think his flamboyant style and toughness will make him a crowd favorite,” said Bristow. “He was one of the most sought-after international free agents and will fill an immediate need for us at the back-up guard position.”
Macijauskas spent the last two seasons in Spain, but spent his first seven years as a professional in Lithuania. After beginning his career at age 16, he played three seasons with Neptunas Klaipeda before signing with Lietvuvos Rytas Vilnius in 1999-00. During his time in Lithuania, Macijauskas was a two-time League MVP (2001-02 & 2003-03), led his team to the championship in 2000 and 2002 and was named the Lithuanian League All-Star Game MVP in 2003. He also helped team Lithuania win the gold medal at the 2003 European Championship and played in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, where he scored a team-high 24 points in a 104-96 loss to the United States in the bronze medal game.
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“Signing Bostjan and Arvydas today dramatically improves our team,” said Hornets General Manager Allan Bristow. “Adding them to our roster gives us an immediate boost in scoring and outside shooting, two areas we needed to address this offseason.”
Nachbar, a three-year NBA veteran, holds career averages of 5.1 points and 2.0 rebounds in 130 NBA games. He was originally acquired by the Hornets along with Jim Jackson from Houston in exchange for David Wesley on December 27, 2004. The native of Slovenia enjoyed his best season as a pro in 2004-05, posting career highs in every statistical category and averaging 7.0 points and 2.6 rebounds in 71 games with Houston and New Orleans. Nachbar lifted his averages to 8.1 points and 2.8 rebounds in his 55 games with the Hornets and led the team in three-point field goal percentage at .371 (65-175)
“Re-signing Bostjan was one of our main objectives this summer,” added Bristow. “He showed us a great deal of potential in the 55 games he played for us and we are looking forward to helping him continue to develop and play a larger role for us.”
Nachbar was originally drafted by Houston with the 15th overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. He averaged 2.1 points in 14 games as a rookie for the Rockets and 3.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in 45 games in 2003-04. Nachbar recently returned from China, where he participated in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program in Beijing along with former teammate Yao Ming. The program consists of basketball instructional camps for kids that promote leadership, education, sportsmanship and healthy living.
Macijauskas joins the Hornets after playing the first nine years of his professional career overseas. Last season, the Lithuanian native was named to the All-Euroleague First Team while playing with Tau Vitoria in Spain. Macijauskas averaged 16.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg and 1.9 apg while shooting .569 (127-233) from the field, .426 (98-230 from three-point range and .902 (138-153) from the free throw line.
“Arvydas had one of the best shooting touches I’ve seen in a long time and we think his flamboyant style and toughness will make him a crowd favorite,” said Bristow. “He was one of the most sought-after international free agents and will fill an immediate need for us at the back-up guard position.”
Macijauskas spent the last two seasons in Spain, but spent his first seven years as a professional in Lithuania. After beginning his career at age 16, he played three seasons with Neptunas Klaipeda before signing with Lietvuvos Rytas Vilnius in 1999-00. During his time in Lithuania, Macijauskas was a two-time League MVP (2001-02 & 2003-03), led his team to the championship in 2000 and 2002 and was named the Lithuanian League All-Star Game MVP in 2003. He also helped team Lithuania win the gold medal at the 2003 European Championship and played in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, where he scored a team-high 24 points in a 104-96 loss to the United States in the bronze medal game.
