J.R. Smith, the sky-walking 20-year-old guard in his second season, could be one of the players traded by the Feb. 23 deadline.

Yes, this is the same Smith who dazzled New Orleans last season with his dunks and long-range shooting, winning Western Conference rookie of the month honors three times.

But Smith was inconsistent during the first two months of this season -- his first two months as a starter -- suffering through a horrid shooting slump in December. Smith averages 9.3 points per game and has led the team in scoring three times; last season he averaged 10.3 points and led the team in scoring 17 times. Since his Jan. 2 benching, he has played 10 or more minutes just four times.

Said Smith earlier this month: "I put a lot of pressure on myself more last year than this year."

Byron Scott, the Hornets' stern coach, does not tolerate complacency. Earlier in January, when asked about Smith's efforts, Scott said that NBA stands for "No Babies Allowed."

And there's no caboose on Scott's train.

Obviously, the Hornets have invested in Smith -- the No. 18 pick of the 2004 draft -- and want to see if he will pan out. He's still learning the pro game at a college age. But if Scott isn't going to play Smith -- or even have Smith in his rotation -- then the Hornets will have to consider trading Smith to get a player who can make an immediate impact.