The New Orleans Hornets are moving to the Western Conference without Jamal Mashburn ... for at least one season.
Mashburn and the Hornets will announce later Monday that the former All-Star will spend this entire season on the injured list in hopes of making one last comeback attempt in 2005-06, league sources have told ESPN.com.
Mashburn, 31, was limited to 19 games last season because of a deteriorating knee condition that threatens to force his retirement.
Although the announcement does bring some clarity to the Hornets' plans for their first season in the West, after months of speculation about Mashburn's future, the realization that his season is already over -- and his career in jeopardy -- is a big blow for a team moving to a conference with no fewer than 13 legitimate playoff contenders.
Byron Scott, the Hornets' new coach, can still build around the talented twosome of point guard Baron Davis and center Jamaal Magloire, but Mashburn's knee troubles rule out the possibility that he might be traded for an asset. Upgrading the roster is a priority for the Hornets in the wake of Davis' recent request to be traded.
this will be a tough blow for the Hornets, now I doubt they will make the playoffs in the harder Western Conference. This is a huge downgrade for them.
