As other NBA teams take an aggressive approach toward free agency, the Hornets and General Manager Jeff Bower have been low-key, though active in inquiring about available frontcourt players.
Although Bower has not pursued big-name free agents such as Rasheed Wallace (who is expected to sign with Boston today), Trevor Ariza (Houston) or Hedo Turkoglu (Toronto) to bolster the team's front line, he has expressed interest in several power forwards/centers in the past week, according to agents and league sources familiar with the situation. The forwards on the Hornets' radar include Sacramento restricted free agent Ike Diogu, San Antonio unrestricted free agent Drew Gooden, Boston restricted free agent and former LSU star Glen Davis, Dallas unrestricted free agent and former LSU standout Brandon Bass, Cleveland unrestricted free agent Joe Smith and New York Knicks unrestricted free agent Chris Wilcox. At center, New Orleans is targeting two unrestricted free agents, Denver's Chris Andersen, a former Hornet, Atlanta's Zaza Pachulia.
Unrestricted free agents may sign with any team. Restricted players can sign offer sheets with any team, but their current team can the offer and retain them.
With the mid-level and biannual exceptions, the Hornets could spend $7.4 million on free agents. But they likely won't spend that much. Their payroll has excalated to $77.5 million, well higher than the expected salary cap.
Without question, according to a league source, the Hornets are aiming to address their frontcourt needs through free agency, though one of the first calls Bower made at the start of the free agency negotiating period last Wednesday was to Mark Bartelstein, agent for former Hornets guard Jannero Pargo.
The Hornets continue to pursue Pargo, but they have competition with Chicago Bulls, who are trying to replace shooting guard Ben Gordon, who agreed to a free-agent deal with the Detroit Pistons last week.
Free agents can sign contracts today, but the Hornets are not expected to make any moves for the next few days. Bower and Coach Byron Scott departed Tuesday for the Las Vegas Summer League. While they're in Las Vegas, negotiations with prospective free agents are expected to intensify -- the summer league is a gathering spot for agents and general managers.
The Hornets' rivals in the Southwest Division have been active during free agency. San Antonio obtained Richard Jefferson in a trade last month from the Milwaukee Bucks and agreed to a deal with Marcus Haislip, a 6-foot-10 power forward/center who was one of the top players in Europe.
Ariza agreed to a deal to join the Houston Rockets. Dallas is expected to re-sign starting point guard Jason Kidd, and Orlando Magic restricted free-agent center Marcin Gortat has agreed to an offer sheet with the Mavericks. The Mavs also are working on a possible sign-and-trade deal to obtain Shawn Marion from the Toronto Raptors.
The Hornets are waiting for the market to set the price for the majority of the second-tier free agents they are pursuing.
Andersen has been negotiating with Denver for the past week. He was a vital defender during the Nuggets' first-round playoff series victory against the Hornets . Andersen reportedly is seeking a five-year, $25 million contract that would likely be out of the Hornets' price range.
New Orleans, San Antonio and Memphis have expressed interest in Davis, who averaged 15.8 points with Boston while filling in for injured starter Kevin Garnett during the playoffs this past season. The Celtics can match any offer for Davis, but he might be expendable after they reached a deal with Wallace.
Diogu, 25, is receiving only minimal interest and could agree to a deal for less than half of the $5.6 million mid-level exception. The Kings, however, have the right to match any offer. Diogu, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound power forward, was traded at midseason from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Kings after playing in 19 games and averaging 1.4 points. In 10 games with Sacramento he averaged 9.2 points.
Gooden, Smith and Wilcox are receiving minimal interest. The Hornets initially obtained Smith and Wilcox in a February trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder for center Tyson Chandler, but the deal was rescinded after Chandler failed a physical.
The Hornets might have difficulty obtaining Bass, who has drawn considerable interest on the open market and may be the subject of a bidding war. It could take a substantial portion of the Hornets' mid-level exception to sign him. The Hornets also remain interested in re-signing center Sean Marks, according to a league source.
Bower has declined comment during the negotiating period, but he said before the free-agency period that he planned to make contacts and see what the market is going to create.
The Hornets continue to shop Chandler. Phoenix has shown the most interest.
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John Reid can be reached at jreid@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3407.
