Then last season, with expectations high for the Hornets , they limped to a 49-32 record and lost badly in the first round of the playoffs to the more physical and determined Denver Nuggets.

Butler, however, rebounded to average a career-best 11.2 points on 43 percent shooting, 39 percent on 3-point attempts.

Highlights included a career-high 27 points against the Clippers on Jan. 9, a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send into overtime a game at Miami that the Hornets won and a buzzer-beating, winning 3-pointer at Sacramento.

To help the Hornets and himself to better results this season, Butler, 6 feet 7, has been working to improve his ballhandling.

"I've been focusing on my playmaking ability off the dribble," Butler said during the Hornets' Summer Hoops Basketball Clinic on Tuesday at UNO, in which 175 children ages 7 to 14 participated. "The next step for me is to help Chris Paul handle the ball in the backcourt and take some of the pressure off him by being able to run the offense.

"And it would make me much more of a (scoring) threat. Being able to drive to the basket would make me tougher to guard."

More drives would likely result in more free-throw attempts, which could lift his scoring average. And increased free-throw shooting has proven to help teams defensively, as it cuts down on opponents' fast breaks.

For Butler, 2009-10 looms as important. This is the last season of his four-year $13.89 million contract. At 30, he is entering his eighth season in the NBA and will make $3.945 million. A second consecutive season of improved play likely would pay off in another multiyear contract.

Meanwhile, the Hornets have a logjam at his position, even though that appears to be more of a concern for backups Morris Peterson and Devin Brown. The Hornets are high on rookie Marcus Thornton, a 6-4 shooting guard from LSU who wowed team officials at a predraft workout with his offensive prowess and competitiveness.

Although Butler's scoring average is not eye-popping for his position, which is played by many of the league's top scorers, he seems unfazed about the crowd at his spot.

"I don't worry about what pieces are put in place," he said. "I have a job to do. I have my opportunity, and I'm going to continue to take advantage of it."

Some NBA teams have made splashes in free agency this week, including Southwest Division rival San Antonio's acquisition of dynamic small forward Richard Jefferson. On the eve of when teams can sign free agents, the Hornets have yet to make a move to get frontcourt help. However, Butler believes that General Manager Jeff Bower and Coach Byron Scott have something in the works.

Forward Brandon Bass, a former Hornet who spent the past two seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, and center Mikki Moore, who ended last season with the Celtics, are players the team is targeting.

"We definitely need someone who has Brandon's type of game, someone who plays really strong and big under the basket," Butler said. "And (Moore), I think he's an excellent Basketball player and would be a good fit.

"It's going to be a long offseason, and every team makes their moves during the time period that's most beneficial for them. I know (Bower and Scott) are doing things to make us a better team."