December 22, 2006

Bob Licht Feedback? Email Bob LICHTcast audio discussing team injuries: Byron Scott David West

Bobby Jackson will be the first of the Hornets’ injured trio to return to the floor for Byron Scott. David West and Peja Stojakovic are in a whole different category because of this week’s surgeries.

Jackson’s absence has allowed Jannero Pargo to step into the scoring role off the bench and he’s proving to be quite an off-season find by the front office. He’s poured in 100 points in the last eight games (nearly doubling the entire bench total during that time). When Jackson returns (soon after Christmas) Pargo becomes an additional weapon off the bench and could even permit Byron Scott to play a three-guard lineup along with Chris Paul.

In the absence of second and third leading scorers West and Stojakovic, Desmond Mason has also stepped up offensively, averaging 13.5 PPG on 47 percent shooting in December.

With the announcement that surgery was necessary for both Hornets big guns the front office knew it needed to bring in reinforcements. This happened earlier today when veteran guard/forward Devin Brown was signed as a free agent. Brown is a strong, athletic player who thrives in the open court and can provide outside shooting depth as well (.346 three-point average during his 4-year NBA career). He was on the San Antonio Spurs 2005 championship team along with Linton Johnson and last season averaged a career-high 7.5 PPG with the Utah Jazz. Considered more of scorer than shooter, look for Brown to play the off guard and small forward spots off the bench for the remainder of the season.

The transaction is the first for the team since West and Stojakovic went down with their injuries. With Jackson still on the inactive list the Hornets active roster now moves back to 12.

For more on the surgeries that took place earlier this week…click onto the LichtCast for both David West and head coach Byron Scott.