DRAFT PICKS: The Hornets selected Kansas forward Darrell Arthur with the 27th pick, then traded his draft rights o Portland for cash considerations in a deal negotiated before the draft. They had previously traded away their second-round pick.
BIGGEST NEEDS: The Hornets are looking for an athletic swingman. They're also interested in backups to C Tyson Chandler and point guard Chris Paul. FREE AGENT FOCUS: Three reserves -- G/F Bonzi Wells, C Chris Andersen, and F Ryan Bowen -- are unrestricted free agents. Reserve G Jannero Pargo opted out of his contract July 1. Reserve C Melvin Ely chose not to opt out of the final year of his contract and remains under contract for the 2008-09 season.
PLAYER NOTES:
--C Tyson Chandler could still join teammate Chris Paul on the U.S. Olympic team that competes in Beijing in August. Chandler was named as an alternate, primarily in case injury prevents Orlando's Dwight Howard from participating.
--Reserve F/C Melvin Ely chose not to opt out of the final year of his contract, meaning he will almost certainly return for a second season with the Hornets.
--Reserve F/C Chris Andersen, who played sparingly down the stretch of the regular season and was inactive for the playoffs after being reinstated from a two-year drug suspension, visited with the Celtics. Andersen is an unrestricted free agent. The Hornets have an interest in bringing Andersen back, though coach Byron Scott has said he's unsure if the organization would have room for both Andersen and Ely.
