Marquee Players Shun Hornets

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"All of the calls that we make, a lot of these guys won't come," Scott said. "They think they're going to go higher or some guys got a guarantee from some team that's told them they're going take them. So they feel, why come to work out when they know they are going to be drafted seventh, eighth, ninth or 10th?

"That's very disappointing. All the issues they're fighting over right now, I think one of the issues (Commissioner David) Stern should be talking about is guys who just don't want to come work out for certain teams. It's a concern with this league, and they've got to sit down and talk about it."

Bristow declined to say how many prospects have refused the team's offer for a workout. With the draft approaching, Illinois point guard Deron Williams is the only prospect who has worked out for the Hornets who is projected to be among the top six picks.

Since May 18, the Hornets have worked out 16 prospects. Other than Williams, only Syracuse's Hakim Warrick, Oklahoma State's Joey Graham, North Carolina's Raymond Felton, New Mexico and former Grace King High School standout Danny Granger are considered as first-round locks.

Wake Forest point guard Chris Paul, rated as the No. 1 point guard in the draft, didn't mention his scheduled workout with the Hornets during an interview on ESPN radio earlier this week. But Paul, who is expected to be in New Orleans next week, said he would be working out for the Charlotte Bobcats today. The Bobcats have the fifth pick behind the Hornets.

"We have to make sure we do our homework in the wintertime with these players. That's where we do most of our evaluations," Bristow said. "These workouts are important, but they are not necessarily the only thing that you critique."

When a player declines to work out, Bristow said, it can't be taken personally by the organization or the city. Before the 1999 draft, point guard Baron Davis refused to workout for the Charlotte Hornets, and they selected him anyway at No. 3.

"He wanted to go to the Clippers," Bristow said. "I wasn't with the team then, but I heard the story."

Before last year's draft, J.R. Smith did not come for a workout because his agent told Bristow that he would be picked before the Hornets selected at 18th. It turned out that Smith was still available and the Hornets selected him.

"If we feel comfortable with a player, whether he comes in or not, we will draft him," Bristow said. "I think it's so important that the draft is your lifeline. To be the fourth pick or the fifth, whether you're Utah, Portland, New Orleans or whatever team, it should be an honor (for the player) to be picked second, third, fourth or fifth.

"It shouldn't be a situation where, 'Let's see, I want to go to this team that's picking 10th, so I won't work out for anybody else.' I really haven't been comfortable or used to something like that." </div>

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