Report: Hornets plan to sign Elliot Williams to 10-day contract

The Charlotte Hornets need help at the guard positions now, and that may cost someone their roster spot in the coming days.

The Hornets are planning to sign Elliot Williams out of the D-League this week, according to Marc Stein of ESPN. The Hornets are off until Thursday and would likely delay any signing until then to maximize the window of what would be a 10-day contract for Williams.

If the report is accurate, it means the Hornets could soon be cutting ties with a roster player. They have a full roster of 15, all playing on guaranteed contracts, and don't appear to qualify for any injury exceptions to add an additional piece. 

Jannero Pargo, who has been out indefinitely since Dec. 22 with a back injury, would seem the likely candidate if he's not expected back immediately. The team is thin at point guard with Kemba Walker sidelined, so if Pargo is close he could be given a stay of execution. That could make Jeffery Taylor a candidate, as he's found little playing time since returning from a 24-game suspension earlier in the year.

This would represent Williams' fourth crack in the NBA and second this year. A first-round pick of the Portland Trail Blazers in 2010, Williams missed his entire sophomore season due to injury after an unimpressive and largely inactive rookie season. He then caught on with the Philadelphia 76ers last year and earned a pair of 10-day contracts with the Utah Jazz in Janaury.

In five games with Utah, Williams scored 18 points in 42 minutes, dishing four assists. In 19 D-League games this season, he's averaged 20.1 points and 7.6 assists, proving himself capable of sliding from the two-guard to the point.