http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1085208936116850.xml HOLDING PATTERN Forward Jamal Mashburn's future with the Hornets is up in the air, and a knee injury clouds his situation even further Saturday, May 22, 2004 By John Reid Staff writer It's hard for Hornets forward Jamal Mashburn to walk through an airport without being stopped by fans who want to know where he might end up next season. On a trip to Atlanta this month, Mashburn said, several people told him it would be great to see him on the same team with LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers star. But Mashburn not only doesn't know where he'll be playing next season, he doesn't even know if he'll be playing. Mashburn said his injured right knee, which forced him to miss 63 games and the playoffs, continues to swell, mainly a problem of bone rubbing against bone because of cartilage damage. He doesn't know if it will heal before training camp starts in October. He also doesn't know whose training camp he'll be in. He said he still hasn't heard whether the Hornets plan to trade him. In late July, Mashburn plans to have his knee re-evaluated. If the problem persists, he said he would consider sitting out next season or possibly retiring. "At that point the fact would be a fact," Mashburn said by telephone Friday. "I've rested it and done everything that I can do, and at that point, they would have go on without me or I would have to take more time off. "But all in all, I'm going to try and to do everything possible to get back on that basketball court. I'm not one to sit out for no reason. That's where all the misconception is, that I haven't come out publicly and explained my injury." Mashburn missed the first 44 games after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, then returned to the lineup in mid-January. He played in 19 games after reinjuring his right knee by bruising a bone. Now, Mashburn said he's following the advice of the Hornets' doctor. He is resting the knee for the next two months. Hornets officials declined comment Friday about Mashburn's medical situation. "I'm not concerned that some people think it's not as serious as it is," Mashburn said. Regardless, his trade value likely has decreased because of his injury problems. For the Hornets to trade him, they would have to obtain a player with a salary comparable to Mashburn's. He will make $9.3 million next season. There has been speculation that the Cavaliers, coached by former Hornets coach Paul Silas, are interested in Mashburn. But officials from both teams have declined comment. Since the Hornets' season ended this month, there's been virtually no communication between the Hornets and Mashburn. Mashburn said he hasn't spoken to anyone in the team's basketball operations department since the end of April, even though he's still living in New Orleans until his daughter's school session is completed later this month. The team's only public comments regarding Mashburn this month came at its May 7 news conference to announce the firing of Tim Floyd. "In my opinion Mashburn is an incredible talent," Hornets majority owner George Shinn said. "He had some problems. If Mashburn comes back with us next season, we clearly know the best way to manage him. We played him too many minutes. "If we can get better by getting Mash healthy and getting him right, we'll keep Mash. If we can get better by trading Mash, then we're going to get better." Mashburn was banished by the team for the remainder of the playoffs before Game 2 against the Miami Heat after he publicly criticized the Hornets organization for misdiagnosing several of his injuries. Mashburn met with Bob Bass, the team's retiring executive vice president of basketball operations, two days after the team returned to New Orleans from its playoff game in Miami. "I just think emotions got the best of both parties," Mashburn said. "After we spoke I was fine with it. I think it's all a non-issue now. "I know what type of person I am, and I'm comfortable with me. But a lot of people are not comfortable with me. I think I'm held to a higher expectation than everybody else. I guess it's the way I come across. But I take my job serious, and I don't look at it just as a game." The Hornets are in the second week of their search for a coach. Team officials interviewed former New Jersey Nets coach Byron Scott this week, and they likely will interview Brian Hill, Mike Fratello and George Karl in the next week or so. "I haven't paid much attention to the search, nor have I watched a lot of basketball," Mashburn said. "We've gone through that (coaching search) last year. "I'm a veteran, and I'm not concerned what's on the sideline or the things I can't control. That has to be the least amount of my worries at this particular point. The main thing for me is to get healthy." . . . . . . . John Reid can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3405. --

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