The Hornets have signed 30-year old PG/SG Jannero Pargo.  Pargo played in 63 games (5 starts) for the Bulls last year and he averaged 13.1 minutes, 5.5 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.  He only shot 34.6% from the floor last season so the Hornets might want to limit his shots when he is on the court.  Pargo has now played in 378 games (18 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 15.8 minutes, 6.6 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. 

UPDATE: (10/5/2010) – The Hornets have released Jannero Pargo.

The Hornets have acquired 29-year old SG Willie Green and 24-year old power forward Jason Smith from the 76ers for 32-year old power forward Darius Songaila and 22-year old rookie power forward Craig Brackins. Green played in 73 games (18 starts) for the 76ers last season and he averaged 21.3 minutes, 8.7 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He has now played in 422 games (211 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 21.8 minutes, 9.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Green will likely swing between guard spots this year for the Hornets but he’s not a natural point guard. Jason Smith is a big guy at 7’0″, 240 pounds. He played in 56 games (2 starts) for the Sixers last season and he averaged 11.8 minutes, 3.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Smith has now played in 132 games (3 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 13.4 minutes, 4.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Smith has never gotten much of a chance to show what he can do in the NBA and the Hornets will give him bench minutes behind David West this year.

Darius Songaila played in 75 games (1 start) for the Hornets last year and he averaged 18.8 minutes, 7.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. It was his only season with the Hornets. Craig Brackins was a first round pick of the Hornets this past June. This was a trade made with winning this year in mind so I like it for the Hornets.

The Hornets have invited 27-year old power forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu to training camp. Mensah-Bonsu played in 20 games (0 starts) for the Raptors and Rockets last season and he averaged 6.0 minutes, 2.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. He has now played in 54 games (0 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 8.8 minutes, 3.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. This is another nice low risk move for the Hornets.

The Hornets have signed 23-year old small forward Joe Alexander to a partially guaranteed contract. Alexander missed most of last season due to a severe hamstring injury. He played in only 8 games (0 starts) for the Bulls last season and he averaged 3.6 minutes, 0.5 points, 0.6 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. Alexander has now played in 67 games (0 starts) in his two years in the NBA and he is averaging 11.1 minutes, 4.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. This was a nice low risk signing for the Hornets as Alexander could help them off the bench if he can stay healthy.

25-year old point guard Chris Paul really needs to steer clear of taking advice from LeBron James and his cohorts. They told Paul to demand a trade and bad mouth his organization which was a very stupid thing of him to do. Now Paul will have to be on his best behavior both on and off the court in 2010-11 for the Hornets. Paul played in 45 games (all starts) for the Hornets last season and he averaged 38.0 minutes, 18.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 10.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He has now played in 345 games (all starts) in his five years with the Hornets and he has averaged 37.3 minutes, 19.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 10.0 assists and 2.4 steals per game. If Paul can stay healthy in 2010-11 I see him maybe having the best year of his career.

Mustafa Shakur will be the likely back-up at the point for the Hornets in 2010-11. He played in 47 games (all starts) for Tulsa of the D-League last season and he averaged 37.9 minutes, 19.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game. I don’t think he’ll be as good as Darren Collison would have been but I think he will do a decent job of giving Paul a rest once in a while.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE HORNETS POINT GUARDS IN 2010-11: A+

The Hornets have invited 25-year old point guard D.J. Strawberry and 25-year old center Darryl Watkins to training camp. Strawberry played in 26 games for the Reno Bighorns of the D-League last season and he averaged 28.0 minutes, 13.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He last played in the NBA in 2007-08 with the Phoenix Suns. Strawberry has played in 33 games (0 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 8.2 minutes, 2.2 poinnts, 0.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. He is a long shot to make the team. Watkins last played in the NBA also in the 2007-08 season but with the Kings. He has played in 9 games (0 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 7.9 minutes, 1.3 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. Watkins will also face long odds in trying to make the Hornets.

The Hornets have signed 26-year old rookie point guard Mustafa Shakur who will likely be Chris Paul’s backup in 2010-11. Shakur played in 47 games (all starts) for the Tulsa 66ers of the D-League in which he averaged 37.9 minutes, 19.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game. This was a good move for the Hornets and it didn’t likely cost them that much cash to ink Shakur.