New Orleans Hornets

New Orleans Hornets, Carl Landry, the free-agent forward who accepted the New Orleans Hornets’ one-year contract offer for just under $9 million said Thursday the city, fans and organization are the reasons he chose to return here rather than sign elsewhere.

The Portland Trail Blazers and New Jersey Nets were aggressive suitors for the 6 foot 9, 248-pound Landry, whose abililities practically mirrored those of former Hornets forward David West, whom Landry replaced in the starting lineup late last year after West went out with a knee injury.

“The city, the fans, and most of all, the front office with Dell Demps and Monty Williams and the coaching staff, those guys welcomed me with open arms from the first day I got there as I’ve said before,” Landry said. “That was the advantage over the rest of the teams: the coaching staff and the front office.”

In the last week, the Hornets’ brain trust continued to remain in contact with Landry, his agent Mark Bartelstein said, which further endeared Landry to the team.

“I definitely had other options, but I felt at home and felt at ease after the decision to come back to New Orleans,” Landry said. “I love Coach Williams and the coaching staff and that’s what made the decision a lot easier for me.”

Courtney Lee

Courtney Lee, Two popular former Orlando Magic players are about to participate in an exchange of four teams, ESPN.com ‘s Chad Ford is reporting.

Courtney Lee would go from New Jersey Nets at Houston Rockets. Trevor Ariza would the Rockets to the Hornets in New Orleans.

The Hornets sent Darren Collison and James Posey to the Indiana Pacers. And the Pacers Troy Murphy sent the Nets.

The Rockets would be Lee’s third team in his short career in the NBA, and the agreement would have a clear positive and clear negative for him.

First, the positives: It would be out of New Jersey, which was 12-70 last season and should be horrible, once again, even with Avery Johnson as head coach. I also think that Lee feels energized to join the Houston Rockets went 42-40 last season and could sneak in pursuit of the Western Conference playoffs this season.

Now the negative: Lee will join a team that already has a good escort. The Rockets acquired Kevin Martin of the Sacramento Kings last season, and Martin is the clear starter. In fact, as Ford said, perhaps the best aspect of this agreement for the Rockets is that they will get rid of long-term contract Ariza.

How does this affect the magic?

My friend Ben P. Rock OrlandoPinstripedPost.com supports the efforts of the Magic to acquire Chris Paul of New Orleans “could soon be a great success” because the Hornets split with Collison, a point guard of the future potential.

I disagree because that is the Magic had a reasonable expectation of Paul in the first place. I do not think any team, much less the Magic had the opportunity to get Paul.

I have argued for some time that the Hornets would be crazy to trade away their franchise player, while he has two seasons left on his contract. In short, Paul simply does not have any leverage to force a deal because of their contractual situation and because he is not the kind of person who would become a team cancer.

All that said, you can bet that Paul is heated speculation again if the Hornets from 2010 to 1911 to start his illness.