The draft-night events in which the Hornets added backcourt players Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton doesn't slam the door on the possible return of former New Orleans combo guard Jannero Pargo, Coach Byron Scott said Friday.
Pargo, who last was seeking a three-year contract from the Hornets in the neighborhood of $3 million annually, signed with a team in Russia for considerably less. He is now a free agent eligible to negotiate with any NBA team. Pargo was a spectator at the Hornets' predraft workout when Collison and Thornton auditioned at the Alario Center, along with Pargo's younger brother Jeremy, on June 6.
Mark Bartelstein, Pargo's agent, is on record saying he has had conversations with Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower about Pargo's possible return and there was curiosity on both sides about Pargo coming back to New Orleans.
"I still think there's mutual interest between the two parties," Scott said Friday, before Collison and Thornton were introduced at a news conference. "When July 1 (the beginning of the free-agency signing period) comes around, obviously we have some other needs we have to fill, as well. By no means do I think this closes the door on J.P.
"It's too early to say you close the door on a guy who helped you win 56 games a couple years ago, and the familiarity we have with him and the familiarity he has with us. Jeff is still getting calls from his agent, and they still have some dialogue, and I'm sure they'll start talking again."
Bartelstein said Friday he would reach out to Bower in the coming days about whether the Hornets still might be interested in his client.
"We're just going to have to see," Bartelstein said. "I think there's been a lot of interest in Jannero, and as I've said before, he certainly has an interest in coming back to the Hornets . I think we'll talk very soon."
Bower said Friday he speaks to Bartelstein "maybe not daily, but pretty close. Regularly."
Asked if the Hornets' decisions in the draft diminish their desire to re-acquire Pargo, Bower paused for a time before giving a typically vague reply.
"I'm not ready to give an answer on that at all," Bower said. "I understand the question. It's a good question. But I'm not ready to comment on it."
Pargo signed a one-year deal worth $3.8 million with Dynamo Moscow of the Russian Super League after eschewing the Hornets' offer last year. He then secured a buyout from Dynamo Moscow in January and ended up with Olympiacos in the Greek portion of the Euroleauge. He was released by Olympiacos on May 5.
He averaged 3.5 points and 1.4 assists in the Euroleague after a 2007-08 season in New Orleans where he averaged 8.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 80 regular-season games. He was a key contributor in the Hornets' drive to the Southwest Division championship as well as their postseason success.
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Jimmy Smith can be reached at jsmith@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3814.
