Bobcats Sign Larry Hughes In Attempt To Increase Bench Productivity

The Charlotte Bobcats have signed guard Larry Hughes hoping he will be able to bring intensity, both offensive and defensive off the bench to aid their playoff run.

After trading Flip Murray, who had been their leading scorer off the bench, to acquire Tyrus Thomas at the trade deadline, the Bobcats backup guards have struggled to replace Murray's production. While Tyrus Thomas has proved to fit well within the Bobcats system, averaging 11 points and 7 rebounds off the bench, Charlotte still needed a guard to produce off the bench as well.

DJ Augustin is the only guard off the bench averaging more than four points, tallying 6.2 points per contest, but on a poor 37% shooting. The only other guards off the bench, Gerald Henderson and Derrick Brown combine for 6.2 points between them, and at this point have been inefficient and unreliable at best.

Hughes, was released by the Kings after being acquired from the Knicks is nursing a broken finger, an injury that scared the Bobcats enough for them to announce that they would not sign him. But the injurt healed more quickly than expected, and Hughes is expected to be cleared to play in around a week.

Hughes, better known for his defensive prowess has been a disappointment the last few seasons, shooting just 36% and averaging 9.6 points in New York before falling out of favor and breaking his finger.

The Bobcats, currently tied for 6th in the Eastern Conference will be without Guard-Forward Gerald Wallace for a few games after Wallace let the game last night with a sprained ankle.

The team has been actively looking to improve their backcourt, and it was decided that Hughes was the most promising option on the market, and they'll hope his acquisition will help them secure the first playoff birth in the team's history.