Hornets forward Peja Stojakovic is the team's highest-paid player, but he'll be coming off the bench this season.

Stojakovic is hoping that the role will help him deal with a troublesome back.

He had back surgery in 2007 and has missed a combined 93 games in the last three seasons mostly because of the injury.

"I think it makes it easier on him," Hornets coach Byron Scott told the Sacramento Bee. "It's less minutes. He's not going against some of these premier small forwards right off the bat every single night. I like him coming off the bench going against some of the bench guys that have to guard him and that he'll have to guard."

He went 1-for-2 in 20 minutes of action against the Spurs in the team's season opener.