原文出自nola.com http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/110093911761770.xml Hornets sign forward Freije Drafted rookie Pickett waived to make room Saturday, November 20, 2004 By John Reid Staff writer With the Hornets off to their worst start in franchise history, General Manager Allan Bristow scrambled to fill one of the team's needs, signing free-agent forward Matt Freije on Friday as a backup frontcourt player. Freije, the 53rd pick in last June's NBA draft, was released by the Miami Heat last Sunday. Bristow had contacted several teams in hopes of finding a backup frontcourt player with outside shooting ability. At 6 feet 10, 249 pounds, Freije is big enough to play both forward spots and possibly center. "Matt will be able to help our team," Bristow said. "We worked him out prior to the draft, and we know that his skills and size will help fill a role." To make room on its roster, New Orleans released shooting guard Tim Pickett, who was Hornets' second-round pick -- the 44th overall -- in last June's draft. Pickett, who played at Florida State, had struggled to learn Coach Byron Scott's system since the start of last month's training camp. "I loved Tim and his personality, but obviously it didn't work out," said Scott, who did not rule out the possibility of inviting Pickett back to next season's training camp. "He didn't learn the system the way I would have liked. This was more of a numbers game because we needed to get bigger. I was wearing out (forward) P.J. Brown in practice and playing him a lot of minutes in games." Freije averaged 18.4 points last season and was first-team all-SEC at Vanderbilt, and he is the school's career-leading scorer with 1,891 points. Freije had been on the injured list for Miami since the start of the season with an upper respiratory infection, but that's no longer a problem. With the Heat, Freije was expected to have a difficult time earning minutes behind a frontcourt that includes Shaquille O'Neal, Rasual Butler and Udonis Haslem. The Hornets' initially made contact with Freije's agent Tuesday while he was driving from Miami to Nashville, Tenn. "I was all bummed that I would have to take a CBA (Continental Basketball Association) or NBDL (National Basketball Developmental League) job," said Freije, who signed a one-year deal with the Hornets. "I was driving through Georgia when my agent called. "Hopefully, I've found a new home. I think shooting is one thing that I can do. I'm not going to get down low and bang anybody. I'm going to step out and try to shoot some jumpers. Hopefully, I'm able to contribute to the team in some way. We'll see where it goes." The Hornets put Freije through a tryout Friday morning before offering him a contract. Scott said he was impressed. Afterward, at practice, Freije also showed several times that can he make perimeter shots. "I told Allan right away I like the kid," Scott said. "He has great foot work, really can shoot the ball and got a real feel on how to play." Despite apparently strengthening their bench, the Hornets still face a difficult challenge tonight when they play the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are led by last season's league MVP, Kevin Garnett. On Nov. 6, the Timberwolves defeated Hornets 99-92 at the Target Center in Minneapolis as Garnett scored a game-high 29 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. In Wednesday's 95-84 loss to Phoenix at New Orleans Arena, which dropped the Hornets to 0-7, Suns center Amare Stoudemire did just about anything he wanted against center Jamaal Magloire. Stoudemire, getting dunks and other shots in the post, scored a career-high 38 points. Scott said he hopes his players can force the ball away from Garnett and keep him from matching what Stoudemire did. . . . . . . . John Reid can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3405 --

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