Hornets point guard Chris Paul says that returning from a knee injury despite the team's bleak playoff hopes was the right thing to do.

"My passion since I was a kid has always been to play the game of basketball," said Paul. "So I feel like if I'm healthy enough to go out and compete, help my team win and just play and have fun, then that's what I want to do."

Paul returned on Monday night after missing 25 games with a torn meniscus that required surgery.

"The fact of how many games are left is an opportunity for us to improve a lot as a team, play combinations of players together," coach/general manager Jeff Bower said.

"The fact that he's been cleared medically and has been given the green light to return to participation is the most important factor. We would not be rushing him back if medically he wasn't cleared and ready to return to play. He's a competitor that wants to play and obviously once he's cleared and healthy we want to begin the transition."

Hornets point guard Chris Paul is hoping to return to the court this week, a source told ESPN.com's Marc Stein.

Paul is mulling over whether to play on Monday night against the Mavericks or Wednesday night versus the Cavaliers.

New Orleans coach Jeff Bower told reporters on Saturday that "we will be seeing [Paul] soon ... hopefully earlier in the week."

Paul has missed the team's last 25 games after surgery on his left knee.

Teams looking for a quality starting point guard could be calling the Hornets about Darren Collison.

The Hornets are expected to be cautious until they are certain about Paul?s health, but one NBA source said it wouldn?t be a surprise to see the team try to package Collison with Peja Stojakovic?s expiring contract next season in a possible trade.

?I don?t know what?s going to happen in the future,? Collison said. ?I?m hearing this and that, but for the most part, I?m not even worried about it. I can?t. I?m too young in my career to be worried about that right now.?

Hornets point guard Chris Paul is now cutting and moving laterally during pregame workouts.

There is still no exact target date for his return from knee surgery, but Paul told the Times-Picayune that he could play Saturday against Utah or Monday against Dallas.

"It's amazing just weeks ago, I was like will I ever get back," Paul said. "But now to be almost there gives me a lot of hope and something to be excited about. I'm moving pretty good right now, but I still have a little ways to go."

The Hornets had just eight players on Monday night against the Clippers, but general manager/coach Jeff Bower says that the team hasn't explored any additions.

New Orleans could sign a player from the NBA Development League or offer a 10-day contract to a veteran free agent.

"It's a short-term situation that we're in," Bower said. "Quite frankly, the eight players that we have are better than anyone we could bring in. This gives them an opportunity to play extended minutes. It's something we're going to continue with for now."

Hornets reserve center Sean Marks will undergo right shoulder surgery on Tuesday morning and will be out the remainder of the season.

Hornets forward James Posey didn't travel with his teammates to Phoenix on Saturday and will miss Sunday's game against the Suns.

Posey sat out Friday night's loss to Denver with flu-like symptoms.

New Orleans spokesman said Posey's status for Monday's game against the Clippers is uncertain.

Hornets point guard Chris Paul could return to the court within 7 to 10 days.

He was medically cleared to begin running on Friday after New Orleans originally projected that the All-Star would miss four to six weeks following knee surgery on Feb. 4.

Paul has missed 20 straight games.

"It will be the regular transition from half-speed to three-quarters to full speed before he returns," general manager/coach Jeff Bower said. "We're optimistic."

Hornets point guard Chris Paul has been cleared to begin workouts at three-quarters speed, general manager/coach Jeff Bower said.

Paul participated in the team's shootaround on Friday, but Bower still doesn't have a return date for the All-Star.

Due to other injuries, the Hornets will only have eight healthy players on Friday against the Nuggets.

The Hornets still don't have a timetable for Chris Paul's return from knee surgery.

New Orleans coach/general manager Jeff Bower touched on Paul's status in an interview with the team's official blog.

"I don't have a target date. His next step is to begin running. He's not begun that process yet. We'll know (more) when that transition (to running) starts to take place." Bower said.