Hornets' Mo Williams excited to be reunited with 'best friend' Al Jefferson

Not only does point guard Mo Williams have an opportunity to compete for a playoff spot following his trade to the Charlotte Hornets, but he also gets a chance to play with close pal Al Jefferson once again.

The duo were teammates on the Utah Jazz during the 2012-13 season, and have been tight since their teenage years when they grew up together in Mississippi.

"Our friendship is beyond basketball - he's my best friend and we talk all the time," Williams said, according to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. "And we play well together - we complement each other. That’s always a good thing."

The Hornets obtained Williams from the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday in an effort to bolster their depth at the point, with Kemba Walker sidelined into March after undergoing knee surgery. 

Williams filled in as a starter in Minnesota for long stretches while Ricky Rubio was out with an ankle sprain, and the veteran is expected to command a large role with the Hornets, too. In 41 games Williams is averaging 12.2 points, 6.4 assits and shooting 34.7 percent from long range. 

Jefferson repeatedly told Williams how fond he is of Steve Clifford and the rest of the Hornets' coaching staff. 

"Me and Al had a good conversation," he said. "When he told me about the coaching staff and the team I was even more excited. He’s had nothing but good things to say about coach Clifford from day one, and I always kept that in mind."

Charlotte doesn't play again until after the All-Star break, so Williams's debut with the team will have to wait until Feb. 21 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

The Hornets entered Wednesday in possession of the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, one game ahead of the ninth-place Brooklyn Nets.