The NBA is moving ahead to determine whether or not the Charlotte Hornets will be allowed to move to New Orleans, La. for next season.
League commissioner David Stern picked seven owners for a relocation committee that will study the move before presenting its findings to the NBA Board of Governors meeting in April.
The most prominent member of the committee is Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo. Colangelo, who also owns Major League Baseball?s Arizona Diamondbacks, is the chairman of the NBA Board of Governors.
Other relocation committee members are Los Angeles Lakers? owner Jerry Buss, Cleveland Cavaliers? owner Gordon Gund, San Antonio Spurs? owner Peter Holt, New Jersey Nets? owner Lewis Katz, Indiana Pacers? owner Herb Simon and Philadelphia 76ers? owner Ed Snider.
Colangelo didn?t let on any preference when talking to reporters in New York City on Friday.
"The city of Charlotte is yet to step up," Colangelo said. "We have to let the process play out."
However, Colangelo later said current Hornets? owners George Shinn and Ray Wooldridge have an inherent advantage.
"They?re (the NBA owners) not thrilled about them wanting to move," Colangelo said. "But there?s not anything they can really do about it."
All-Star Hornets?
On Tuesday, the NBA will announce reserves for the Feb. 10 All-Star Game in Philadelphia. League coaches will vote for those players and Hornets coach Paul Silas isn?t sure if his team will have a representative.
Center Elden Campbell is putting up some of the best numbers of his career, while point guard Baron Davis is clearly establishing himself among the league?s best players.
"I think it?s going to be very close with Elden and BD (Davis) probably has too many guys he?s competing with," Silas said. "I?m hopeful we?ll have somebody, but it?s going to be close."
With Toronto?s Vince Carter, Boston?s Antoine Walker, Washington?s Michael Jordan and Philadelphia?s Allen Iverson and Dikembe Mutombo announced as starters Saturday following voting by the fans, there are several other players who deserve consideration for the remaining seven spots.
Most figure New Jersey?s Jason Kidd, Milwaukee?s Ray Allen, Orlando?s Tracy McGrady, Boston?s Paul Pierce to be locks for four of those spots.
It means Campbell and Davis will likely be locked in competition for three spots with Detroit?s Jerry Stackhouse, Milwaukee?s Sam Cassell, Indiana?s Jermaine O?Neal and Miami?s Alonzo Mourning.
Magloire?s progress
Second-year center Jamaal Magloire?s improvement is starting to garner attention around the league.
Phoenix has already called to inquire about his potential trade availability and Indiana general manager Donnie Walsh recently raved about the 7-foot-1 center?s play.
"But I don?t see us doing anything with him," said Hornets coach Paul Silas.
Ever since drafting Magloire in June 2000 and seeing his development as a rookie last season, Silas has considered Magloire and Davis the foundation for future Hornets? success.
Magloire recording the first back-to-back scoring and rebounding double-doubles of his career Friday at Indiana and Saturday against Houston has done to diminish Silas? opinion.
"He?s really playing well," Silas said of Magloire. "He?s learning this league and where he fits. Compared to last year when I thought he did fine for a rookie, he?s really coming around."
Lynch update
George Lynch has hardly provided the boost many with the Hornets expected upon his return from toe surgery two weeks ago. But Silas remains confident in the player he acquired from Philadelphia last October.
"He?s just trying to get his legs back," Silas said of Lynch, who is averaging 1.7 points, 1.8 rebounds and 9.0 minutes per game in six games. "He?s just missed so much time. He?s working to get it back. He?s always working hard."
Gentry laments losing Hornets? franchise
Shelby?s Alvin Gentry certainly didn?t ever think he?d see a day when professional basketball left Charlotte.
But Gentry, a 1973 Shelby High graduate and current Los Angeles Clippers head coach, is hopeful the Hornets won?t leave for New Orleans.
"I can?t believe what?s happened here," said Gentry, whose Clippers have already played Charlotte twice this season. "I was here when they led the league in attendance and this was a real difficult ticket to come by.
"I hope something can happen so they will not lose this team, because this is a tremendous basketball area. I?d like to see it return to the days when they had 20,000 people here every night, because this team is very important to the area."
An unneccesary headache?
Most owners are thrilled when their franchises host the NBA All-Star Game.
Not Philadelphia?s Ed Snider.
"It?s a wonderful thing for the city, but it certainly isn?t anything we?re thrilled with as far as the fans are concerned," said Snider, whose most unhappy his franchise receives only 3,000 tickets for staffers, VIPs and season ticket-holders.
"I wouldn?t do it again. We don?t make money, but that?s not the reason. Certainly it?s not worth the public relations nightmare. Our fans are the people that support us, and they?re the ones we?re concerned about."
Supporting Winters
Charlotte?s Antawn Jamison is a big fan of interim Golden State coach Brian Winters.
"It all goes to Brian," Jamison said. "He?s doing a tremendous job of getting me in my comfort zone. He?s calming me down, challenging me on the defensive end. I know what he?s trying to do. I don?t feel like I have to rush to get my shots. He?s doing a great job of getting me to my sweet spots."