The New Orleans Hornets will take on the host Sacramento Kings at 8 p.m. at the Power Balance Pavilion (17,317). The game will be televised on CST and broadcast on 106.1-FM.

Notable: The Hornets won the series last season 3-1, splitting the two games at what was then known as ARCO Arena. … Sacramento has won two of the past three games against New Orleans on its home floor, but the Hornets have won eight of 10 against the Kings. … The Hornets lead the all-time series 30-28. … Tonight’s game is the first of a back-to-back, the first of the season for New Orleans. … Former Hornets and LSU guard Marcus Thornton starts for the Kings. He leads Sacramento in scoring, averaging 20.3 points. … Sacramento is in the midst of a five-games-in-six nights swing. … The Kings played the New York Knicks on Saturday night, and the Hornets are coming off a 93-78 loss at home Friday night to the Phoenix Suns.

KINGS

PLAYER POS. HT. WT. PPG

John Salmons F 6-6 207 9.0

Chuck Hayes F 6-6 250 6.0

DeMarcus Cousins C 6-11 270 14.3

Marcus Thornton G 6-4 205 20.3

Tyreke Evans G 6-6 220 14.3

Reserves: J. Fredette, G, 10.0; D. Greene, F, 1.0; T. Outlaw F, 2.7; I. Thomas, G, 3.7.

HORNETS

PLAYER POS. HT. WT. PPG

Trevor Ariza F 6-8 210 9.3

Carl Landry F 6-9 248 17.0

Emeka Okafor C 6-10 255 9.0

Marco Belinelli G 6-5 195 10.3

Jarrett Jack G 6-3 197 16.5

Reserves: E. Gordon, G, 20.0; G. Vasquez, G, 6.7; C. Kaman, C, 8.7; A. Aminu, F, 2.0; J. Smith, F/C, 4.7.

While one New Orleans Hornets All-Star awaits his fate, another could be on the way out. The Hornets are negotiating a sign-and-trade agreement with Boston that would send two-time All-Star forward David West to the Celtics, league sources said. Some reports have the Hornets acquiring center Jermaine O’Neal in the deal, but it could not be confirmed Saturday night.

West, 31, opted out of a contract that would’ve paid him $7.5 million this season. The Hornets had pursued re-signing him.

Meanwhile, guard Chris Paul, who played with West for six seasons, is awaiting word on a second attempt at a trade that would send him to the Lakers.

The Hornets would liked to have had West back, and Paul’s situation had no bearing on his decision.

“David made it very clear that he loves Chris, but they are not connected at the hip,’’ Hornets General Manager Dell Demps said Friday. “We have talked to David and his representatives.’’

West, a first-round pick by the Hornets in 2003, tore his left anterior cruciate ligament last season and required reconstructive knee surgery. If he joins the Celtics, he would battle for playing time behind Kevin Garnett. Former Orlando Magic and LSU power forward Brandon Bass recently was acquired by the Celtics in exchange for former LSU forward Glen “Big Baby’’ Davis.

With West out of the picture, it might lead to the Hornets zeroing in on re-siging Carl Landry, who was acquired last spring after West was injured.

Landry’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, said they were still having conversations with the Hornets and several other teams. The Hornets had hoped to sign West and Landry.

Landry, who came from Sacramento in a deal for fan favorite Marcus Thornton, averaged 11.8 points with New Orleans and was its primary low-post scorer.

“We have a lot of free agents that we’re hoping to bring back,’’ Demps said. “We had some guys that had some really good seasons last year that helped us get to the playoffs.’’

Forward Trevor Ariza said he has had conversations with West, Landry and guard Marco Belinelli, who is a restricted free agent.

“Of course, you would love to have those guys back, but at the same time I do understand that it is a business,’’ Ariza said. “And that’s how they have to approach it, doing what’s best for them and their families to the fullest.

“It’s tough. David West has been here for so long. Carl and Belinelli were here last year and were a big part of our team, and they are not here right now.’’

GRAY WEIGHS OFFER: Free-agent backup center Aaron Gray is considering signing a one-year contract offer from the Toronto Raptors.

Gray averaged 3.1 points and 4.1 rebounds for the Hornets last season. He made a significant contribution off the bench in the Hornets’ first-round playoff series against the Lakers last season.

BLOG ISSUES: Hornets Coach Monty Williams isn’t a fan of the reports on the Internet about Chris Paul’s future and his team’s unsettled roster.

“It’s just a lot of speculation, blogging and tweeting,’’ Williams said after Saturday’s practice. “I’d rather tongue-kiss a maggot than tweet or blog. It’s freakin’ unbelievable. I really would.

“I don’t know how guys find time to, `Hey, I’m tying my left shoe, here goes the right, stay tuned for details.’ ’’

Although former LSU guard Marcus Thornton’s struggles’ in Hornets Coach Monty Williams’ system last season ultimately led to him being traded to Sacramento, New Orleans General Manager Dell Demps apparently is interested in giving Thornton another shot.

Thornton’s agent, Tony Dutt, said he has had discussions this week with Demps, along with four other teams, including the Kings. Thornton is a restricted free agent, and Sacramento can match any offer he receives.

Free agents can sign contracts beginning Friday.

The Hornets traded Thornton, a fan favorite, last February to acquire forward Carl Landry, who is a free agent.

The organization wasn’t pleased with Thornton’s development. Coach Monty Williams, who was in his first year with the team last year, said they had too many wing players, including Marco Belinelli and Willie Green, who are both free agents.

“I’m just ready to play,’’ Thornton said. “I have worked on a lot of things that will make me better as a player.’’

Dutt said the Kings have expressed the most interest in Thornton, who blossomed in their wide-open offense. Thornton averaged 21.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 27 games as a starter in Sacramento. In a reserve role with the Hornets, he averaged 7.8 points in 46 games last season.

The Hornets acquired Thornton on draft night in 2009 from the Miami Heat, who drafted him in the second round.

The Hornets are not likely to make a serious push to sign Thornton if they re-sign Belinelli or Green, sources said. It also would be unlikely they would aggressively pursue Thornton if the Hornets acquired an elite shooting guard in a trade involving All-Star point guard Chris Paul.

The Hornets have only five players under contract with training camp is set to begin Friday at the Alario Center — Paul and backup point guard Jarrett Jack, forwards Trevor Ariza and Quincy Pondexter, and center Emeka Okafor, .

“It would not be a shock if Marcus came back here,’’ Pondexter, who is in his second year, said. “I know that he’s from this area and was great at times when he was here. I think it’s a great possibility that it does happen. If he wants to play for us, we’re all going to welcome him back.’’

Unsure of his plans, Thornton said he is mostly thankful the NBA is back in business after the 149-day lockout.

“It really makes you appreciate the game,’’ Thornton said. “Every time you get a chance to be on that court, you just have to take full advantage of it.’’ 

With only a week remaining before free agents can sign contracts, the Hornets may have the hardest challenge of any NBA team to retool their roster.

New Orleans is the only franchise in the league with only five players under contract. Since last Wednesday, when general managers could begin contacting the agents of available free agents, Hornets General Manager Dell Demps has been scrambling to get his targets in line.

The NBA is finally back to business after an agreement was reached to end the 149-day lockout. With a shortened 66-game regular season set to begin on Christmas Day, general managers such as Demps are working long hours to get their rosters in order.

League sources confirmed the Hornets are interested in re-signing both David West and Carl Landry. But the Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors have shown the most interest in West, and Landry has been targeted by the Portland Trail Blazers.

Former LSU forward Glen “Big Baby’’ Davis, a free agent who has played four seasons with the Boston Celtics, has listed the Hornets as one of the teams he would consider if offered a deal. Small forward Josh Howard could be another player the Hornets might pursue.

Although the league granted permission for team officials to grant media interviews last week, Demps has not been made available yet.

Teams can sign free agents to contracts beginning Dec. 9, the first day training camps open. The season is set to begin on Christmas Day, and the Hornets could open on Dec. 26.

“Our front office has done a great job so far since I’ve been here,’’ backup guard Jarrett Jack said. “A lot of people looked at the Marcus Thornton trade last season and thought that was something that was going to hinder us further on down the line. But adding someone like Landry, coincidently, David goes down, and he comes in and steps forward for us.

“I’m sure they are going to do a great job of providing us with the necessary parts and pieces we need to be competitive.”

However, it could be difficult for the Hornets to attract free agents with the uncertainty involving All-Star point guard Chris Paul’s future with the franchise. Paul has not indicated if he will sign a long-term extension, and the Hornets have listened to trade offers.

Despite swirling trade rumors concerning Paul, the Hornets are trying to carry over momentum gained last season when they advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2009 and before losing to the Lakers in six games in the first round under Coach Monty Williams.

Paul said he didn’t know who all the available free agents are, but the most important thing the Hornets could do is find out what West wants to do.

“At the end of the day, he’s going to do what’s best for him and his family,’’ Paul said.

At $42 million, the Hornets have the sixth-lowest payroll in the league. They will have just less than $16 million to spend on free agents and would stay under the projected $58 million salary cap.

“I felt we did pretty good last year, considering we had so many new bodies with a first-year coach,’’ forward Trevor Ariza said. “We’ve got to deal with the cards that we have, not worry about anybody else and try to get it done.’’

Ariza, who lives in Los Angeles, said he did not try to entice any free agents to consider New Orleans. However, Jack said he told some free agents about the benefits of playing in New Orleans.

“I live in Atlanta, so there are various guys that come in and out of the gym, and I’m always throwing New Orleans out there as a nice landing pad. But I’m confident our front office will be able to handle that and are up to the task to do that and get ready for the season.’’

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John Reid can be reached at jreid@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3407.