New Orleans - The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have acquired guard Shammond Williams from the Orlando Magic in exchange for center Sean Rooks.

"Shammond gives our team another quality shooter as we head down the stretch," said Executive VP of Basketball/General Manager Bob Bass. "He has the ability to play both the point guard and two-guard positions."

Williams has averaged 4.9 points and 1.7 assists in 37 games with the Magic this season. He has started twice, averaging 13.5 points, 7.5 assists and 2.5 steals. Williams was placed on the Injured List Nov. 15 with a sprained left knee and missed nine games before being activated on Dec. 5.

Last season was the best of Williams' career, as he averaged 8.0 points and 3.4 assists in 78 games with Boston and Denver. He was traded to Boston prior to the start of the season and was traded to Denver later in the season. Williams signed with the Magic as a free agent this summer.

Williams was originally selected by the Chicago Bulls in the second round (34th overall) of the 1998 NBA Draft. His draft rights were traded to Atlanta, where he played in two games in the 1998-99 season. Williams was signed as a free agent by Seattle prior to the 1999-00 season and spent three years with the Sonics, averaging 5.6 points and 2.2 assists in 162 games.

Rooks, who signed as a free agent by the Hornets this summer, had averaged 2.3 points and 1.4 rebounds in 35 games for the Hornets this season. He had missed the last three games after being placed on the Injured List with a sprained right ankle on Feb. 10.