Tue, Jan 31, 2006 at 12:00am

AaRON WILLIAMS NOW A HORNET

The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets acquired center Aaron Williams from the Toronto Raptors for second round draft picks in 2006 and 2009.

What does it give the New Orleans Pelicans
A solid back-up center for a possible playoff push. Williams is no star but he does fill a handful of important needs for the Baby Bugs. One: He gives the team a guy who can step right in and provide a similar presence to one lost when Chris Andersen was recently kicked out of the NBA for drugs. Two: Williams provides a veteran presence on a team sorely lacking in veteran leadership past P.J. Brown. He played well under Hornets' coach Byron Scott when the two were in New Jersey. Three: When his veteran contract expires after this season, the Hornets can use the cap space it creates to sign free agents. The team didn't really need the second-round draft picks since they're already loaded with young prospects.

What does it give the Toronto Raptors
A couple of solid (if not great) building blocks for their rebuilding project, and a symbolic move to start moving past the Rob Babcock era. Babcock made misstep after misstep as the Raps' GM over the past year and a half, and now that he's fired the team is cleaning up what he left. Williams wasn't a bad player but he wasn't part of the team's rotation and he was mostly just a reminder to fans of the ridiculous trade that send Vince Carter to New Jersey (and included Williams coming to Toronto). The two second-rounders are consistent with the team's philosophy of building with youth, and it also frees up a little playing time right now for youngsters Charlie Villanueva, Pape Sow, and Rafael Araujo.

Fantasy impact