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The New Orleans Hornets did not have a second round pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. But they decided to acquire one to add a local favorite. The Miami Heat traded the rights to LSU guard Marcus Thornton (43rd overall pick) to New Orleans for 2 future second round picks.

The Hornets used their first rounder to draft UCLA point guard Darren Collison (21st overall). Both players participated in the same pre-draft workout together (one of four overall) held at the Alario Center earlier this month.

As a senior with the Tigers, Thornton (6-4, 205) earned SEC Player of the Year honors in leading LSU to the SEC Regular Season Championship. He averaged 21.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in 2008-09.

HORNETS RELEASE: "Thornton played two seasons at Louisiana State University after spending first two years at Kilgore Community College. Thornton led the Tigers to the 2009 SEC Championship, as LSU went 13-3 in the Southeastern Conference and 27-8 overall (tying for the third most wins in the history of LSU basketball).

In just two seasons at LSU, he finished with 1,347 points, 21st all time for the Tigers. His 20.4 scoring average is sixth-best all time in school history. Thornton finished eighth in school history with 168 three-pointers. As a senior, Thronton averaged 21.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists, and was the consensus SEC Player of the Year. He was second in the conference in scoring. He finished the year with 19 straight games scoring in double figures."

Plus...
First Round Capsules
VIDEO: Byron Scott
VIDEO: Jeff Bower

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