http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1088670309245050.xml COURT OF APPEALING? Two free agents have expressed their desire to stay with the Hornets, and now the team hopes other clubs' free agents will find New Orleans too good to pass up Thursday, July 01, 2004 By John Reid Staff writer Hornets forward Robert Traylor says he is impressed with the direction the team is heading with its recent hirings, and he's eager to return. Now he just has to wait and see if the Hornets are eager to have him back. Traylor is one of five Hornets players who became free agents today and can begin negotiations with any team. They cannot sign a contract until July 14. For the Hornets, much has changed since the season ended. The franchise has hired a new coach in Byron Scott. Allan Bristow was promoted to general manager. And Hall-of-Famer Willis Reed became vice president of basketball operations. "I love the fans and my teammates, and it would be a great situation for me to come back if it's out there," Traylor said by telephone Wednesday from Detroit. "Scott has been in the Finals two years in a row, so that brings a lot of experience, and it shows me they have the capability to win. I think they made all good moves in the right direction." In the next 13 days, Scott hopes several more free agents will express the same interest in wanting to play for the Hornets. Last season, the Hornets' top free-agent priority was to re-sign forward P.J. Brown. This time, they're looking to become quicker and more athletic. The Hornets could be seeking a shooting guard, backup center or small forward in free agency. "We're ready to get rolling with the second phase," Scott said. "The first phase was the draft, and the second phase is free agency. We're going to sit down and start knocking heads to try to make sure we bring the best available guy in here to make us a better basketball team. "We're making some people notice what we're trying to do here. I think when you hire a guy like Willis Reed, it gives you instant credibility." The top available free agents are Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant, Detroit Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace and New Jersey Nets forward Kenyon Martin. All three are expected to command salaries beyond the range the Hornets can pay. The Hornets can offer only a mid-level contract of up to $5.1 million because of salary-cap restraints. They could divide that amount if they sign two free agents. Free agents who could be pursued by the Hornets include Chicago Bulls shooting guard Jamal Crawford, Memphis Grizzlies forward Stromile Swift, San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Hedo Turkoglu, Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Stephen Jackson, Phoenix Suns forward Keon Clark and Sacramento Kings center Jabari Smith. Swift and Smith played at LSU. "We have to look at what's out there and see what players can best fit in our system," Bristow said. "But we'll be actively pursuing free agents." Bristow wouldn't say specifically if the Hornets would re-sign Traylor, Stacey Augmon, Shammond Williams or Steve Smith, all unrestricted free agents. Shooting guard Courtney Alexander is a restricted free agent. He can be offered a contract above the $5.1 million mid-level exception because the Hornets are allowed to match any offer he receives. "We're going to have some of those players back, but we have to wait as the process goes along," Bristow said. "We don't want to put a finite number on the players we plan to bring back as we continue through free agency." Alexander missed the 2003-04 season because of a ruptured Achilles tendon. The Hornets left Alexander unprotected in last month's expansion draft, but he wasn't selected by the Charlotte Bobcats. Instead they took guard Maurice Carter, who played six games with the Hornets last season. "I expected that, because of the unknown with my injury," Alexander said by telephone Wednesday. "But the word I got is that the Hornets are definitely committed in trying to bring me back there. "I would love to go back to New Orleans because, for one, it's a great opportunity for me. I also have a lot of unfinished business. I didn't have a great season, but I'm a person who likes to finish things that I start. But obviously, at the same time, this is a business, and options will be weighed. But my first choice definitely is to remain a Hornet." . . . . . . . John Reid can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3405. --

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