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.

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.

The Hornets have acquired 24-year old shooting guard Marco Belinelli from the Raptors for 23-year old forward Julian Wright. Belinelli played in 66 games (1 start) for the Raptors last season and he averaged 17.0 minutes, 7.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He has now played in 141 games (24 starts) in his three years in the NBA and he has averaged 15.9 minutes, 6.6 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Belinelli has shot 38.8% from three point range so far in his NBA career so he will bring offense off the bench for the Hornets in 2010-11. Julian Wright has been a huge disappointment for the Hornets. He played in 68 games (14 starts) for the Hornets last season and he averaged 12.8 minutes, 3.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Wright played in 179 games (34 starts) in his three years with the Hornets and he averaged 12.8 minutes, 4.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. I like this deal for the Hornets as Wright has been a huge bust for them.

The Hornets have acquired 25-year old SG/SF Trevor Ariza from the Rockets and they have sent 22-year old point guard Darren Collison and 33-year old small forward James Posey to the Pacers. The Nets have acquired power forward Troy Murphy from the Pacers and the Rockets have acquired SG/SF Courtney Lee to finish out this deal. Ariza played in 72 games (71 starts) for the Rockets last season and he averaged 36.5 minutes, 14.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He has now played in 383 games (123 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 23.1 minutes, 8.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Ariza will compete with Marcus Thornton at SG and Peja Stojakovic at SF. I see him starting for the Hornets in 2010. The price was high though as Darren Collison is a outstanding player. He played in 76 games (37 starts) for the Hornets as a rookie last season and he averaged 27.8 minutes, 12.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Posey played in 77 games (2 starts) for the Hornets last season and he averaged 22.5 minutes, 5.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He played in 152 games (2 starts) in his two years with the Hornets and he averaged 25.5 minutes, 7.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. This deal probably will make Chris Paul happy as Collison wasn’t going to play much for the Hornets in 2010-11 while Ariza will give them another finisher in the fast break.

The Hornets have re-signed 25-year old center Aaron Gray to a 2-year deal. Gray played in 24 games (0 starts) for the Hornets last season and he averaged 10.9 minutes, 3.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. He has now played in 149 games (19 starts) in his three years in the NBA and he is averaging 11.0 minutes, 3.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. This was a solid move for the Hornets as I’m sure they didn’t have to break the bank to bring Gray back.

The Hornets have signed 27-year old shooting guard Luther Head to a 2-year, $2.3 million dollar deal. Head played in 47 games (10 starts) for the Pacers last season and he averaged 17.3 minutes, 7.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He has now played in 312 games (68 starts) in his five years in the NBA and he has averaged 23.1 minutes, 8.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. This was a outstanding signing for the Hornets as Head will bring instant offense off the bench for them in the next couple of years.

UPDATE: The Hornets have rescinded their offer to Luther Head due to physical reasons.

On one hand the Hornets say that they will not trade Chris Paul. On the other hand they say they would trade Paul as long as the other team takes back center Emeka Okafor too. It’s no mystery that the owner of the Hornets is in financial trouble and that could lead to them trading some veterans. Darren Collison did step up last season while Paul was injured but it’s quite another animal to replace him forever. I did think the Hornets pulled off a good trade on draft day when they moved center Cole Aldrich and veteran forward Morris Peterson to the Thunder for rookie forwards Craig Brackins and Quincy Pondexter who both have nice upsides. It will be interesting to see if the Hornets can pare payroll while still competing. It’s a fine line to walk.

33-year old small forward Peja Stojakovic is opting in for the 2010-11 season for the New Orleans Hornets. He would have been insane to opt out as he is due to make $15.34 million bucks this season. Stojakovic’s play slipped a little bit last season for the Hornets. He played in 62 games (55 starts) for the Hornets last season and he averaged 31.4 minutes, 12.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Stojakovic has now played in 212 games (204 starts) in his four years with the Hornets and he has averaged 33.8 minutes, 14.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. The Hornets hope Stojakovic has something left seeing how they are on the hook to him for big bucks.