David West

David West underwent successful surgery on his left knee Tuesday morning for a torn ACL. West will miss the remainder of this season and the playoffs.

Typical ACL injuries require 6 to 8 months of rehabilitation. West is expected to complete his rehabilitation within that time frame, but at this time, it is difficult to predict the precise time of his return to the basketball court.

The All-Star Power Forward is expected to have a full recovery.

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Chris Paul

Chris Paul remembers every detail of the first time he met Michael Jordan. Now referring to him as his mentor, could Paul decide to return home next year and make Jordan his boss?

“It would definitely be something to think about,” the New Orleans guard said Tuesday when asked about the potential to sign with the Jordan-owned Charlotte Bobcats in 2012.

“But right now it’s all about trying to win a championship here with the Hornets.”

ESPN.com

David West, Glen Davis

After tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, New Orleans forward David West has been lost for the rest of the season and will face six months of rehabilitation, league sources told Yahoo Sports on Friday.

West suffered the devastating injury Thursday night in a Hornets overtime victory against the Utah Jazz, and an MRI on Friday in Phoenix revealed the tear.

The season-ending injury is a crushing blow to the Hornets, who are clinging to the seventh seed in the Western Conference. Memphis trails the Hornets by one game, and Houston is three back now.

Chris Paul

Chris Paul has been playing better basketball of late after going through a rough patch a few weeks ago that led many to wonder aloud if he was either injured or had been mentally disengaged.

“Ever since I got that knee brace off, I feel a lot freer,” said Paul.

Paul had 26 points, nine assists, five rebounds and three steals in the Hornet’s victory on Wednesday over the Suns.

“That’s just the way it’s going,” Paul said of his surge. “It’s winning time. You can’t wait and hope other teams lose to get in position.”

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Chris Paul

Chris Paul left Sunday’s game at Cleveland at the 4:36 mark in the third quarter following a collision with Ramon Sessions. Paul’s forehead went into Sessions’ shoulder on the play.

Paul was taken from the court on a stretcher after alerting trainers of neck pain. He was fully conscious and did not lose feeling anywhere at any time.

Paul was taken to the Cleveland Clinic for precautionary tests. All tests taken at the hospital were negative and revealed that Paul suffered a concussion. He rejoined the team at the arena and will accompany them to Chicago.

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Chris Paul

The Hornets remain one of the most aggressive teams on the trade market, according to league sources. New Orleans would like to add scoring and size ahead of next week’s trade deadline.

Despite the lack of a long-term agreement with David West, general manager Dell Demps will not part with the forward, according to sources.

The Hornets have targeted Denver’s J.R. Smith and Cleveland’s Antawn Jamison and they are expected to pursue Troy Murphy if he receives an expected buyout from New Jersey.

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Antawn Jamison

Antawn Jamison was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers last year to help LeBron James win a championship but he might already be moving elsewhere before the Feb. 24 trading deadline.

However, ESPN reports “increasing apprehension about how restrictive the next labor agreement will be has prompted several teams to back off on deal-making.”

This may result in Jamison not moving to another team. According to sources, the New Orleans Hornets “has strong interest in Jamison, but also expressed skepticism that a suitable deal can be assembled before the deadline to send the 35-year-old anywhere.”

Jamison has one more year left on his contract that is worth $15.1 million.

Yahoo Sports

Trevor Ariza

With Emeka Okafor already out with a strained oblique muscle, Hornets starting small forward Trevor Ariza severely sprained his right ankle in the third quarter Wednesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and did not return.

With a shorter rotation, and with point guard Chris Paul missing more than 10 minutes in the first half after tweaking his left ankle, the Hornets lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder 104-93 at the Oklahoma City Arena.

It appears Ariza could be sidelined indefinitely. After the game, he wore a protective boot and walked with crutches.

FanNation

Emeka Okafor

Emeka Okafor will be sidelined from one to three weeks because of his strained left oblique muscle.

The Hornets announced Tuesday that an MRI revealed a grade 2 strain of the muscle. He suffered the injury in the first half of the team’s loss at Phoenix on Sunday night.

Okafor has played in 306 straight games.

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