The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have suspended guard/forward Jim Jackson indefinitely for failing to report to the team.

Jackson was acquired along with forward Bostjan Nachbar from the Houston Rockets in exchange for guard David Wesley on Dec. 27.  The trade will not be affected by Jackson's suspension, meaning Nachbar will be available for tonight's contest vs. Phoenix.

"We're confident that once Jim has time to evaluate his situation more closely, he'll understand that we have a great organization and a tremendous coaching staff and that New Orleans is a wonderful place to become part of the community," said Hornets General Manager Allan Bristow.  "The Hornets have established a strong winning tradition over the years. We plan to continue to work tirelessly to get back to that."

Jackson has spent time with Dallas, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Golden State, Portland, Atlanta, Cleveland, Miami and Sacramento in addition to Houston (where he signed as a free agent prior to the 2003-04 season).  He had averaged 13.3 points and 4.8 rebounds in 24 games with the Rockets this season.

With the Clippers having lost seven out of their last eight, the hot rumor has the team sending guard Kerry Kittles, center Chris Kaman and forward Chris Wilcox to the New Orleans Hornets for guard Baron Davis, a former UCLA Bruin.

Clipper coach Mike Dunleavy laughed at that idea.

"You'd have better odds taking your money to Las Vegas than betting on that one," he said.

The Hornets waived guard Alex Garcia and forward Lonny Baxter after trading David Wesley.  

Garcia, who was claimed off of waivers by the Hornets on June 16, averaged 5.5 points and 1.9 rebounds in eight games.  Baxter, who was signed as a free agent by the Hornets on December 12, averaged 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in four games.

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have acquired guard/forward Jim Jackson and forward Bostjan Nachbar from the Houston Rockets in exchange for guard David Wesley.

"Jim and Bostjan are going to fit well into our system and should be able to help us with their offensive skills," said Hornets General Manager Allan Bristow.  "We're optimistic that the addition of these two players and the return of some of our injured players will give us a great boost on the court."

Jackson, currently in his 13th NBA season, holds career averages of 15.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 805 games.  The 6-6 swingman has spent time with Dallas, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Golden State, Portland, Atlanta, Cleveland, Miami and Sacramento in addition to Houston (where he signed as a free agent prior to the 2003-04 season).  He had averaged 13.3 points and 4.8 rebounds in 24 games with the Rockets this season.

Nachbar (whose name is pronounced "BOAST-jon NOCK-bar) was selected by the Rockets with the 15th overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft.  The 6-9 Slovenian forward averaged 2.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in his first two seasons with Houston and had averaged 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in 16 games with the Rockets this season.

"David Wesley has always exemplified the very best in what a Hornets player represents on and off the basketball court," said Hornets Owner George Shinn. "He has been a part of some great memories with our club, both in what he has done for us on the court and what he has meant to the community.

"We wish him and his family the best."

During Wednesday night's game, Lakers forward Caron Butler and Hornets guard Dan Dickau became entangled and fell to the floor. Butler punched Dickau in the midsection during the scuffle and was ejected by referee Violet Palmer.

The Lakers defeated the Hornets by a final score of 101-89.

Chris Mihm had a career-high 21 rebounds for the Lakers.  Chucky Atkins had a season-high 30 points.

All-Star guard Baron Davis was activated from the injured list by the New Orleans Hornets, who said he probably wouldn't play Tuesday night against the Clippers.

Davis played in the season's first five games, averaging 24.6 points and eight assists. But he has missed the next 18 games, going on the injured list Nov. 17 with an inflamed disc in his lower back.

The New Orleans Hornets have hired their own marketing firm, The Bonham Groub, to attract a buyer for the naming rights to the New Orleans Arena.

SMG, the current mangers of the arena, have been unable to find a company to purchase naming rights for the arena in the three years since Hornets moved to New Orleans from Charlotte.  

"We felt it was time for us to get more involved and start a more aggressive campaign to get the naming rights sold," said Sam Russo, the team's executive vice president of business.

Once that happens, if the naming rights amount is for more than $2.5 million per year, the state is in the clear, and the Hornets keep the profits.

If the Hornets sell the naming rights in excess of $1.5 million but less than $2.5 million, the state has to pay the team the difference, so it reaches a total of $2.5 million annually.

It took over a month for the New Orleans Hornets to get their first win at home and they did at the expense of the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, winning 98-89.

The Hornets were led by Dan Dickau, who scored a career-high 25 points.  

"I don't look like your typical NBA player, so I get a lot of people that pull for me because of that," Dickau said. "I'm getting a chance to play now and I'm trying to make the most of it. We start winning a little bit more and it's definitely going to be a great experience."

Troy Murphy had 25 and 12 for the Warriors in a losing effort.

On Tuesday night, the hornets will return to Charlotte for the first time since moving to New Orleans, as they will battle the expansion Bobcats.

"I don't think people are angry at the players, they are angry at the situation and how it all went down and how they lost their team," Wesley said Monday. "But I expect a warm reception, at least initially, and then they'll be rooting for the Bobcats."

After the Hornets left, the NBA quickly awarded Charlotte a new team, which has not been embraced the same way the Hornets were when they set an NBA record with 364 straight sellouts from 1989-97.

Hornets' owner George Shinn will not be in attendance.

The Hornets announced that guard Alex Garcia will miss the remainder of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Garcia suffered the injury in the December 12th game at Washington.  He left the game at the 8:29 mark of the third quarter and did not return.  Garcia underwent an MRI yesterday in Charlotte (where the team was preparing for tonight?s game against the Bobcats) and the injury was diagnosed by Bobcats Team Doctor Glenn Perry.  

Garcia had averaged 5.5 points and 2.3 assists in 18.3 minutes per game through eight games (three starts) with the Hornets this season.  He had recently returned to action after missing seven games with a strained left groin.  

Garcia missed the first 33 games of the 2003-04 season (with San Antonio) while on the Injured List with a fractured fifth metatarsal in his left foot.  He was activated on Jan. 5 and played in two games before missing the final 47 games of the season on the Injured List with a right knee contusion (following the Spurs? acquisition of Charlie Ward).