Now, Jannero Pargo didn't directly say those words. He's a free agent and, really, it wouldn't be all that smart for him publicly to declare a preference before he officially can be courted and signed. It'd be a good way for him to erase whatever market there might be for his skills and no good businessman -- or his agent -- is going to do that.

And the Hornets can't say anything for fear of being accused of tampering, and they probably wouldn't admit their interest anyway because to do so possibly would increase a player's asking price.

But the eyes don't lie on this one. The summation here is Pargo wants back with New Orleans as much as New Orleans wants him back.

The guess here is both sides overplayed their hand last summer, the Hornets (and some of us) believing they really could make do without Pargo, and Pargo believing the grass was greener in Russia, because a Russian team was willing to stuff the most green into his wallet.

The Hornets' bench suffered without him, failing to find a consistent backup point guard to Chris Paul. And while Pargo said he enjoyed the experience in Russia, the affection with which he speaks of the NBA and New Orleans says he'd rather have been in the NBA -- with the Hornets .

"I'm just going to take it one day at a time and try to do what's best for me and my family," Pargo said. "If the situation is best for me to come back here (to the NBA), then I will.

"It was a wonderful experience. I got to go a lot of places, see a lot of different things. But I grew up dreaming of playing in the NBA. I definitely would love to get back in the NBA and continue my career."

And obviously, he'd be comfortable continuing it in New Orleans.

The two best, most productive of Pargo's six NBA seasons were spent with the Hornets , for whom he carved a niche as a green-lighted playmaker off the bench who often finished games alongside Paul while scoring 9.2 and 8.1 points per game in 2006-07 and 2007-08.

He'd never played more than 57 games in an NBA season before signing with the Hornets ; he played 82 and 80 with New Orleans and made 12 of his 13 career starts.

Think he wouldn't like to pick up where he left off?

"The same kind of role I had when I was here," he said when asked what kind of role he was seeking. "Second-string point guard, a guy coming off the bench (who's) trying to bring energy, trying to change the complexion of the game.

"I've got friends on this team that'll be my friends far past the Hornets , so I definitely kept up with the guys and the games, and (I'm) disappointed that I wasn't able to be a part of it. But things happen.

"It was hard to watch, period, because those are my guys and I wish I could have been out there fighting and battling with them. It was tough."

Think the Hornets wouldn't like for him to pick up where he left off?

"Yeah, he does," Coach Byron Scott answered with a smile when asked if Pargo offers a dimension the Hornets missed.

Well, there's a chance to hit on Pargo again.

No offense to his brother, Jeremy, who was one of the guards the Hornets worked out Monday, which gave Jannero a reason to drop by the Alario Center. The younger Pargo might be able to help an NBA team, too, and the Hornets possibly could be that team.

"I think it could be (a good situation for Jeremy in New Orleans)," Jannero said. "They need a second-string or third-string point guard. I think he can fit either one of those roles real good. He's a young guy, still getting better. He has a lot of athleticism, a lot of abilities."

But he's an unknown, and for the Hornets , Jannero very much is a known. The Hornets want Jannero back, and he wants to be back.

And although no one is allowed to say that right now, that doesn't make it any less true.

. . . . . . .

John DeShazier can be reached at jdeshazier@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3410.