Okafor: I didn't expect to be traded

tool name

tool name

Collison leads Okafor, Hornets past Bobcats 104-99

Darren Collison scored a career-high 24 points filling in for Chris Paul, David West added 21 points, and the New Orleans Hornets gave Emeka Okafor a victory in his return to Charlotte, 104-99 over the listless Bobcats on Saturday night.

In the first regular-season meeting since the July trade that sent Okafor to New Orleans for Tyson Chandler, the Hornets rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to snap a three-game losing streak since Paul was sidelined with a knee injury.

Okafor, the Bobcats' first draft pick, had 16 points and seven rebounds as the Hornets shot 51 percent from the field.

Bobcats C Chandler close to return, won't start

Tyson Chandler arrived in Charlotte recovering from ankle and toe surgery. After slogging through the first third of the season with unimpressive results, he was shelved again with a stress reaction in his left foot.

Finally healthy, Chandler is ready to return - and wary of fitting in with a team that hit its stride without him.

Chandler participated in his first full practice Monday since being sidelined just before Christmas. After missing 22 games, Chandler says it's possible he could play some on Tuesday against Washington.

Bobcats add Chandler

New Charlotte Bobcats center Tyson Chandler knows his coach, Larry Brown. He has played against Brown's teams several times in the eight seasons he has been in the NBA. And they spoke on the phone Tuesday morning, after the trade for Emeka Okafor that moved Chandler from the New Orleans Hornets to the Bobcats became official.

"I've always admired him from the sidelines, going up against him," Chandler said. "I've admired his teams and how he's put them together."

Then came a good-natured dig at Brown's longevity (24 years) in the league.

2009-10 New Orleans Hornets Preview

Expectations were high for New Orleans a season ago. Having missed the playoffs for three straight years, the Hornets went from fourth to first in the Southwest Division in 2007-08, reaching the semifinals before falling in seven games to the Spurs.

New Orleans figured it didn't need to do much after setting a franchise record for wins, with guard James Posey being the biggest offseason addition. However, after seeing their win total fall seven games, from 56 to 49, and getting bounced out of the first round in five games by Denver this past spring, the club didn't make the mistake of being content again.

The Hornets figure to have as many as six new players this year, including a first-round draft pick in Darren Collison who will expected to help lower Paul's minutes.

Gameday: Hornets at Bobcats, 7 p.m.

BOBCATS VS. HORNETS