Again, Mike James Moves at NBA Trade Deadline

Looks like Duquesne alum Mike James should have one of those multi-passport-stamped suitcases. Thursday, and once again at the NBA's trade dealine, James was picked up by the New Orleans Hornets from the Houston Rockets. The Hornets host Houston tonight (Friday).

Update: The Rockies won 100-80. Mike James and Bonzi Wells were in street clothes. The new Rocket, Bobby Jackson, "... was still in Houston for his physical. The trade would not be official until that was complete." (AP)

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The complete trade:

The New Orleans Hornets acquired guard/forward Bonzi Wells, guard Mike James, and cash considerations from the Houston Rockets for guard Adam Haluska, guard Bobby Jackson, forward Marcus Vinicius and a 2008 second round pick. As part of the three-team deal, the Memphis Grizzlies receive Vinicius, the rights to Malick Badiane and cash considerations in exchange for the rights to Sergei Lishouk. Note: Cash is a luxury-tax deal for Houston, according to media reports.

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The Hornets next game is tonight, Friday, February, 22, 2008, versus the Houston Rockets, in New Orleans at 8:00 p.m. EST. (No TV) In the fall, things looked pretty bright for the 6-foot-2, 188 pound, age 32 Mike James. James, in his seventh NBA season, had been acquired.

The Rockets were getting another chance with James, whom they traded away just before the start of the 05-06 season when he had a career-year with the Toronto Raptors.

James, who was surprised and disappointed then, was coming back to his wife Angela's hometown.

The previous season at Minnesota, James had played in all 82 games, starting 65. He averaged 10.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 42.2 percent from the floor, including 37.2% from three-point range in 25.2 mpg. Those numbers were down from the prior season in Toronto (20.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 5.8 apg) when he averaged 37 minutes each night. His career indicates James' game improves with more playing time.

The season, through November 2007, the Amityville, N.Y. native was getting over 20 minutes PT and averaged 9.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.8 steals while shooting 40.7 percent including 36.2% from 3-point range.

Then on, his name dropped on the Rockets' depth chart to the point where he played just 49 minutes in six games since the New Year. The final Houston numbers: 7.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.7 apg and 19.3 mpg.

A fresh start can be just the thing for the first, and only, Duquesne player to compete in the NCAA Final Four slam dunk competition.

The Hornets hold the best record in the NBA West (37-75, .712). James joins a pretty darn good group of players including La Salle's Rasual Butler, Xavier's David West and Skip Prosser protegee Chris Paul, that has been looking to improve their bench. In the prepared press release, Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower said, “This trade dramatically improves our team by giving us proven veteran scorers at the backup guard and swing positions.”

Might remember that his first deadline trade was to the eventual 2004 NBA champion Detroit Pistons with whom he played a complementary role. (The second was the next season, when the Milwaukee Bucks sent him to Houston; his third, yesterday.)

Look for Mike James' heart to show up too. He was one of the first Houston celebrities to help dislocated Hurricane Katrina victims. Now he's at another 'ground zero' that has lot more work to be done in the non-French Quarter sections.