http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/072004/hor_hornets001.shtml 2theadvocate > Hornets > Hornets like athleticism, youth of new big man 07/20/04 By LES EAST Special to The Advocate NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Hornets finally landed a free agent Monday, signing reserve forward/center Chris Andersen of the Denver Nuggets. Andersen, 6-foot-10, is the first free agent the Hornets have gotten under contract since the signing period began last week. Andersen, who averaged 3.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 14.5 minutes in 71 games, had a career-high 114 blocks last season. He was a restricted free agent but the Nuggets declined to match the offer. "This continues our effort to get more athletic and build a younger team," General Manager Allan Bristow said. "With Chris Andersen we accomplished both those things and we got longer. Chris is a rare shot blocker in this league. He'll add speed to our second unit." New Orleans signed forward Mo Peterson, a restricted free agent from Toronto, to an offer sheet Friday. The Raptors have 15 days to match the offer. The Hornets don't release contract terms. Andersen, an athletic big man who participated in the Slam Dunk Contest before last season's All-Star Game, will back up P.J. Brown at power forward and Jamaal Magloire at center. "When Allan and I talked about Chris the term we thought of was versatility," coach Byron Scott said. "He can play any spot on the front line. His main focus is defense. He's going to be able to help us when we use our second unit to trap and pressure and do crazy things to try and speed up the game. "He plays with a lot of energy. I like players who play on the edge sometimes. He plays with a passion you don't see on an everyday basis in this league." Andersen became expendable in Denver when the Nuggets traded for All-Star power forward Kenyon Martin to add to a group of inside players that already included Marcus Camby and Nene. "This was a great opportunity that I couldn't pass up," said Andersen, who's easily recognizable because he has more than a half dozen tattoos. "I jumped at it. This is a big step for me. "I'm really excited about a chance to play for Byron Scott. They made the team better when they got him here and they made the playoffs last season. Maybe I can contribute to them going a little farther in the playoffs." Andersen, who was undrafted out of Blinn (Texas) Junior College and played internationally before joining the Nuggets in 2001, fills a role similar to that of free agent Robert "Tractor" Traylor, but Bristow said re-signing Traylor is now the team's top priority. "We want to sign Tractor," Bristow said. "I want to make that clear. I called him over the weekend before we came to terms with Chris. That's the most immediate thing for us right now, to get Tractor here." Bristow said the team will focus on its other free agents -- restricted guard Courtney Alexander, unrestricted forward Stacey Augmon and unrestricted guard Shammond Williams -- in August after the fates of Peterson and Traylor have been determined. Bristow said forward Jamal Mashburn will have a second MRI on his injured right knee the first week of August. Mashburn's status for next season is uncertain because of the knee, which kept him out of all but 19 games last season. Peterson, 6-foot-7, who averaged 8.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 26.2 minutes in 82 games, including 29 starts last season, would play primarily the same position as Mashburn, though he likely would play shooting guard. He was the 21st player selected in the 2000 draft and has averaged 11.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in four seasons. Toronto's decision on whether to match reportedly depends on its ability to trade Vince Carter. The Raptors would be more likely to match if they get rid of Carter, who has asked to be traded. --

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