July 23, 2007

Morris Peterson helped Toronto reach the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Three years after their initial attempt, the Hornets finally brought Morris Peterson to New Orleans on Monday. The Hornets originally hoped to acquire the Michigan State alum during the 2004 offseason, when they signed him to an offer sheet, but Toronto foiled New Orleans’ plans by matching the contract offer and retaining the restricted agent.

After spending all seven years of his NBA career in Toronto, Peterson became an unrestricted free agent this summer and narrowed his final two options to New Orleans and Utah. As Peterson explained Monday during his press conference officially introducing him as a Hornet, there were several factors that influenced his decision, including his background and connection to the city of New Orleans.

Inside New Orleans Arena, the 29-year-old addressed a range of questions about his signing:

Hornets.com:Utah and New Orleans were reportedly the top two teams in contention to sign you. Why did you choose the Hornets over the Jazz? Did you see the Hornets as a better fit for you based on their need for outside shooting?

Peterson:When free agency started, the Hornets were the first team to call me, and that meant a lot. I like what the city has to offer, as well as the organization. Basketball-wise, I felt like I could help the Hornets out a lot and I can play a couple different positions – I’ve guarded point guards all the way to power forwards.

I think a lot of people have labeled me as a shooter, because I’ve been known to do that well, but I feel like I can do a lot of different things. When you’ve got a guy like Chris Paul, a point guard who is going to find you, there are a lot of different ways you can succeed. He’s going to find guys spotting up for shots or slashing to the basket.

I feel like I can bring those things, as well as leadership. But I know that Chris Paul is the leader of this team. I’m just here to offer some support and be a guy they can go to and a guy who will be reliable.

I have roots here. I had a chance to come down here a lot in the summertime when I was a kid and my cousin is (former NBA lottery pick) Jonathan Bender, who is from Picayune (Mississippi), which is just up the road. The Hornets are a team on the rise. And my decision wasn’t based completely on basketball. Everyone knows what happened here with Hurricane Katrina. I think it’s an opportunity to do things both on the court and off the court, and help build things in this area.

New Orleans was my first choice and I’m excited about the season starting. I wish it could start tonight.

Hornets.com:How much of a factor was Byron Scott’s presence as head coach in your decision?

Peterson:He was a big influence. He’s done a great job. I remember watching him play when I was a little kid, when (Scott) was in those little short-shorts. [laughs] He was a great player, and who better to learn from than a guy who played in the NBA and had some success?

He lets you go out and play, and he plays to your strengths. He’s been in big-game situations and knows how to get the job done as a coach at this level, which he has proven.

Hornets.com: You played all 82 games four seasons in a row prior to missing 11 games in 2006-07. How do you explain your durability as a player?

Peterson: I’ve been blessed to stay pretty free of injuries, and the injuries that I have had, I’ve still been able to go out there and play. Any NBA player who tells you that they are always 100 percent when they’re out on the court… there’s something wrong (with him), because nobody is 100 percent all season. But I just love playing the game and always had that mentality that even if there are some things I can’t do due to being hurt, there are other things I can bring to the table to help a team win. I’ve been blessed so far and hope to continue that.

Hornets.com: What’s it going to be like to be one of the oldest players on the Hornets’ roster? Your 542 NBA career games and 19 playoff games is more than everyone except Bobby Jackson and Peja Stojakovic. Are you starting to feel like a grizzled veteran now?

Peterson: You know what? Last year in Toronto some of the guys were joking around and saying that I’m a ‘seasoned vet’ now. [grins] When I first got in the NBA, I was in a (Toronto) locker room with Mark Jackson, Charles Oakley, Dell Curry, Muggsy Bogues and Kevin Willis all on the same team, with all of those guys being in their 30s. Now I’m one of the older guys in the locker room.

I’m going to tell some of (his younger Hornets teammates) that your career goes by quick. You’re going to turn around, and you’re going to be 32 years old. [grins]

Hornets.com: After spending the past seven winters in Toronto, how much are you looking forward to seeing some warmer weather?

Peterson: We were just talking about that earlier. I’m getting older now. I’m 29, so I think I need to start waking up to some heat! [laughs]

Hornets.com: You were active in the community in Toronto and one of the team’s most popular players among fans. What are some of the areas in New Orleans where you hope to make contributions?

Peterson: There are a lot of things you can do, but I think the biggest thing you can give a kid is your time. I came from the inner city, so I want to let them know that they are no different from me. The one thing I did was I listened and I pursued my dream. That’s what I try to instill in kids. That’s the most important thing you can do for a kid, is give them time and advice. I love doing that. Every year I host a free basketball camp for kids in Michigan. That’s probably a good idea to do here as well.

The organization is already involved in a lot of things to help rebuild the city, and that’s something that I really want to be involved in.

Hornets.com: How important was it to you to come to this part of the country, considering it sounds like you have a lot of family members who live in the Gulf South?

Peterson: When it came down to making the decision, there were a lot of factors. My family was one of them, and giving them a chance to see me play. My mother has always talked about moving back down to this area, and maybe she’ll do that now. The weather and the food (were also factors).

Also if you look at what this organization has been through, with the hurricane and being displaced, you never saw anybody complaining. It was always, ‘let’s face this adversity.’ It’s not about getting knocked down; it’s about how you react to it. This organization has always handled itself with class and brought good guys in to play for it, guys who care about the team and have one goal, to win.

I feel like we have a chance here to make history. This team just missed the playoffs, even with all of the injuries. Now, with having those guys back, I feel like we’ve got a chance to do something special. I wanted to be a part of that.