04-22-2007, 11:43 AM
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Hornets' brass to start work on building roster...
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Before they headed to the beach or Europe or Winston Salem, N.C., the Hornets stopped by the McBride Clinic on Thursday for physicals and exit interviews with the boss.
The Hornets finished the season 39-43, ousted from the playoff race in the final days despite starters missing a combined 133 games.
"Their thoughts about how they felt about their teammates, their roles and the coaching staff showed they loved being part of this team," General Manager Jeff Bower said. "That tells me that we're on to something."
For the front office, the offseason is a season, too.
While the Hornets have cornerstones in point guard Chris Paul and center Tyson Chandler, they will have to compete this summer to bolster their roster, heading into a crucial season, their first in post-Katrina New Orleans.
The Hornets have nine players under contract and five impending free agents, including one starter, small forward Desmond Mason.
Scott always has been a big proponent of Mason, who has been a gritty defender but inconsistent offensively. Mason averaged 13.7 points and 4.6 rebounds in his second season with the Hornets and earned about $8 million. He turns 30 in October and has only once averaged more than 15 points per game. Because Mason played for the Hornets, they are the only team that can offer him a maximum-length six-year contract, although that would mean paying him until he is 35.
Teams can begin negotiating with free agents on July 1.
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Hornets' brass to start work on building roster...
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