NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Hornets traded veteran guard Darrell Armstrong to the Dallas Mavericks for third-year player Dan Dickau on Friday.
Hornets general manager Allan Bristow said the move allows the
1-13 Hornets to give more playing time to young guards Junior
Harrington and Alex Garcia.
"We see bright futures for both of them and feel very
comfortable with them receiving more minutes and continuing to
develop," Bristow said.
The 36-year-old Armstrong was brought in to lead the Hornets'
second unit, but often started this season and last because of
injuries to Baron Davis, who currently is out with an inflamed disk
in his lower back. Armstrong has averaged 10.6 points and four
assists in 93 games with New Orleans.
Dickau is averaging 1.3 points in four minutes this season. He
has also played for Atlanta and Portland, averaging 2.9 points and
1.3 assists in 97 games.
Since coming to New Orleans, Armstrong has been popular with
fans. He's known for a high-energy, hustling style that routinely
has him diving for loose balls, taking hard charges and causing
turnovers.
But Armstrong also has been inconsistent shooting from outside
and is 17-for-70 from 3-point range this season.
The Mavericks, who lost Steve Nash to free agency last summer,
needed a veteran point guard. Rookie Devin Harris has been
starting, with Jason Terry coming off the bench. But Terry has a
nagging ankle sprain that flared up again in Thursday night's
victory over Houston.
Harrington, 24, who started the season on the Hornets' injured
list, has played well in recent games, averaging a little more than
eight points while shooting 46 percent.
The 24-year-old Garcia has been out with a strained groin but is
listed as probable for Saturday night's home game against the
Detroit Pistons.
"I've been very impressed with Junior and Alex and they've
earned this opportunity," Hornets coach Byron Scott said.
"Darrell is a true professional and a great veteran, but he is
approaching the end of his career and this move will benefit the
Hornets."
Meanwhile, the Hornets expect to add another player to the
roster on Saturday.
The NBA granted the Hornets a roster exemption that will allow
them to place four players on the injured list instead of the
standard three. That will open another spot on the 12-man active
roster.
The Hornets applied for the exemption following this week's
announcement that center Jamaal Magloire would have to sit out up
to three months with a dislocated right ring finger.
Magloire injured his hand in the final minute of a loss at
Phoenix on Nov. 26.
Davis, Jamal Mashburn and Rodney Rogers already were on injured reserve when Magloire got hurt.