New Orleans Pelicans Blog – Page 52 – NBA Blog

Eric Gordon will sign Phoenix Suns offer sheet

Restricted free agent guard Eric Gordon has agreed to a four-year deal with the Phoenix Suns worth about $58 million, a person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press. The New Orleans Hornets have the right to match the deal and keep Gordon.

Gordon was in Phoenix on Tuesday, meeting with the Suns’ front office. The agreement to the offer sheet was confirmed by a person who spoke on condition of anonymity because free agent acquisitions can’t be revealed publicly until next week, according to NBA rules.

The Suns also have had meetings this week with forward Michael Beasley and guard Goran Dragic as they prepare for life after Steve Nash.

There have been several sign-and-trade speculations regarding Nash, who is an unrestricted free agent who seems ever more unlikely to return to Phoenix.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Hornets extend qualifying offer to Eric Gordon

The New Orleans Hornets announced Thursday that the team has extended a qualifying offer to guard Eric Gordon for the 2012-13 season, making him a restricted free agent.

Gordon averaged a team-leading 20.6 points in addition to 3.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals in nine games (all starts) while shooting 45.0% from the field. The Hornets were 6-3 when Gordon played this season and he led the team in scoring in all but one of those contests.

Led by Davis, draft is shaded Kentucky blue

No one-and-done for Kentucky’s kids in the NBA draft. The Wildcats instead became the first school to go 1-2.

After the Hornets selected forward Anthony Davis with the No. 1 pick Thursday night in Newark, the Bobcats followed by taking fellow freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

The Wildcats are the first school to have the top two picks, part of what they hoped would be perhaps five or even six players selected in the first round. The number ended up being four — Terrence Jones, 18th to the Rockets, and Marquis Teague, 29th to the Bulls.

Coach John Calipari has been criticized for recruiting ‘‘one-and-done’’ players — they stay the required one year and leave — but he looked thrilled hugging his two lottery picks.

UCLA had the first and third picks in 1969, when the Bucks took Lew Alcindor and Lucius Allen went to the SuperSonics.

— Reported by the Associated Press

After trade, New Orleans Hornets need a center

New Orleans Hornets General Manger Dell Demps said they cannot ignore the reality of not having a center currently on their roster after trading veterans Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza to the Washington Wizards earlier this week.

Okafor was the Hornets starting center, although he missed 39 games last season with a knee injury. Chris Kaman filled in, but he will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and is not likely to re-sign with the Hornets, according to sources.

But Demps said it’s still too early to say who they may select with the 10th overall pick in the first round of next Thursday’s draft because they are looking at every possible opportunity.

“We’re looking at all options,’’ Demps said.

— Reported by John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune

Hornets trade Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza to Wizards for Rashard Lewis

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has acquired forwards Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza from the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for forward Rashard Lewis and the 46th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.

“We are pleased to add two more solid pieces as we continue to build our roster with a balance of proven veterans and the core of young talent that we have developed,” said Grunfeld. “Emeka’s defensive presence and rebounding ability will combine with Trevor’s versatility to add new dimensions to our frontcourt, and both players fit in very well with the type of team-first culture that we have been working to establish.”

“First, we want to thank Emeka and Trevor for their service on and off the court for our organization. Both of those gentlemen are good players and better people that will be missed,” General Manager Dell Demps said. “We are rebuilding our team and this is one step in our new direction. This trade will provide an opportunity for our young players to develop and create flexibility to add to our core group moving forward.”

According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, “Okafor is due $28 million over the next two seasons. Although Lewis is one of the highest paid players in the league, he has one-year remaining on his contract at that $23.7 million. Sources say the Hornets and Lewis are working on a buyout and Lewis likely won’t play for the team this season… Ariza has two years remaining on his existing contract, which includes a player option in 2013-14 that would pay him $7.7 million if he exercise the option.”

According to ESPN.com, “The move, meanwhile, sheds two long-term contracts from the Hornets’ payroll while opening up minutes, through Okafor’s departure, for Kentucky star Anthony Davis, who almost assuredly will be selected No. 1 overall by New Orleans in next Thursday’s draft. The Hornets, sources say, are planning to waive Lewis before July 1 to slice roughly $10 million off the $24 million that he is owed in 2012-13. With the resultant financial flexibility, New Orleans is confident in its ability to re-sign restricted free agent Eric Gordon this summer to ensure it doesn’t lose the best player it received in exchange for face-of-the-franchise Chris Paul in December.”

Okafor (6-10, 255) holds career averages of 12.7 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks while shooting .517 from the field in 511 career games over eight seasons between Charlotte and New Orleans. The former second overall pick was named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 2005 and was one of three players (joining Tim Duncan and Dwight Howard) to average a double-double from 2004-05 to 2008-09. He has averaged at least 10 points, nine rebounds and 1.5 blocks in seven of his eight NBA seasons and has shot at least 53 percent from the field in the last six consecutive seasons. Okafor averaged 9.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks while shooting .533 from the field in 27 games for the Hornets last season.

Ariza (6-8, 210) holds career averages of 9.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 499 games over eight seasons with New York, Orlando, L.A. Lakers, Houston and New Orleans. Over the last three seasons, he has averaged 12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting .323 from three-point range with the Rockets and Hornets. Ariza helped lead the Lakers to the 2009 NBA Championship, contributing 11.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting .476 from beyond the arc in 23 games (all starts) during their title run. Last season, he averaged 10.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting .333 from three-point range in 41 games for the Hornets.

Lewis averaged 9.6 points and 4.9 rebounds in 60 games for the Wizards. He was originally acquired from the Orlando Magic in exchange for Gilbert Arenas on Dec. 18, 2010. The Wizards originally acquired the 46th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft from Dallas along with Ronny Turiaf, a 2013 second round pick and cash considerations from New York in a three-team deal on Dec. 10, 2011.

Read NBA fan reaction and share your opinion in this basketball forum topic.

Anthony Davis picks agent, signs with Wasserman Media Group

Wasserman Media Group’s Vice Chairman, Arn Tellem, today announced that projected #1 NBA draft pick, NCAA National Champion, consensus player of the year, and University of Kentucky super-star center/forward Anthony Davis, has signed with the agency for comprehensive representation.

“We are thrilled that Anthony has chosen Wasserman and very much look forward to helping him launch what will undoubtedly be a hugely successful NBA career,” said Thad Foucher, EVP, Team Sports and Anthony’s agent along with Tellem.

This signing continues Wasserman’s streak of representing the top pick in multiple sports in 2012, including the NFL’s Andrew Luck, MLB’s Carlos Correa, and MLS’s Andrew Wenger.

“I know that this decision is a critical one to help me get on the right track for the next stage of my basketball career and I did not come to it easily,” said Anthony Davis. “After speaking with many agents and advisors, it became clear to me that Wasserman was the best place for me. I am excited, and also relieved to have made this choice and look forward to starting my career knowing I am in great hands.”

Sale of New Orleans Hornets to Tom Benson is now official

The purchase of the New Orleans Hornets by Tom Benson was completed today after having been approved by the National Basketball Association’s Board of Governors. Tom Benson is now officially the new owner of the New Orleans Hornets.

According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, “On April 13, Benson, who also owns the Saints, signed an agreement to purchase the Hornets from the NBA for $338 million. In the intervening months, the legislature debated, and eventually included, capital improvement funding for the arena, which will eliminate state subsidies of potentially $7 million to $8 million annually to assist the Hornets financially, money the team received under terms of the existing lease in the event certain financial levels were not achieved.”

In conjunction with the finalization of the ownership transaction, the Hornets’ lease extension with the State has been approved by Governor Bobby Jindal and the Louisiana legislature. The extension will keep the Hornets in New Orleans long term, as well as provide funding for upgrades to the New Orleans Arena. The agreement also included the elimination of all exit options, attendance benchmarks, and financial inducements.

The announcement of the finalization of the sale comes on the heels of the Hornets receiving the #1 pick, as well as the #10 pick, in the 2012 NBA Draft on June 28. In April, it was announced that New Orleans will be the host city for the 2014 NBA All-Star Game.

“I’m thrilled to have become the owner of the Hornets,” Benson said. “There is a lot of excitement in the region about the franchise, especially after winning the #1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft. We have been successful with the Saints and I know we can translate that success to our NBA team as well. We have the best, most dedicated fans in the world and will need them along the way as we work as an organization to make them proud. Championship performance is tied to fan support and the passion of the New Orleans sports fan is second to none. We look forward to joining up with all of our valued current fans and also introducing this great team game to many more residents of our city and region.”

Hornets options include trading Emeka Okafor, Trevor Ariza

Although the upcoming NBA draft is deep in talent, Hornets General Manager Dell Demps hasn’t ruled out the possibility of trading the team’s second lottery pick. “Yes, we will if it makes sense,’’ said Demps.

The Hornets have the 10th pick in the draft June 28, as well as the No. 1 overall selection, which the team is expected use on Kentucky power forward Anthony Davis.

“There’s been some teams that have put young guys around a top pick,” Demps said. “Some of the other teams have put veterans around the pick. Some have been successful both ways. I think we’re just going to look at what is best for our situation.’’

To improve the roster around Davis, the Hornets could try to explore a deal that would include trading either center Emeka Okafor or small forward Trevor Ariza, along with the 10th pick. That would clear salary cap space to possibly pursue more veteran help in free agency.

— Reported by John Reid of the New Orleans Times Picayune

Hornets begin workouts of draft prospects

The New Orleans Hornets are working out prospects at the Alario Center today, the first of two sessions they’re conducting.

The guys working out this morning are: Tyler Zeller, a 7-foot center from North Carolina, John Henson a 6-11 power forward from North Carolina, Meyers Leonard a 7-1 center from Illinois, Arnett Moultrie a 6-11 power forward/center from Mississippi State and Terrence Jones a 6-9 power forward from Kentucky.

All of the prospects the Hornets are working out today are players they are targeting for their No. 10 pick in the first round.

— Reported by John Reid of the New Orleans Times Picayune

Hornets likely landing a new TV deal

A soon-to-be-announced television deal with Fox Sports’ regional networks will erase a decade-long issue that kept Hornets games off some area cable television systems, annoyingly stunting fans’ access to telecasts of the team’s games.

Multiple sources confirmed Tuesday that Hornets telecasts will switch to the Fox cable system beginning next season, enabling the team to saturate its ticket-selling market, especially the north shore.

Cox Sports Television, the network created in part because of a 10-year agreement that began in 2002 to televise Hornets games, declined to be part of an NBA-negotiated bidding process that resulted in Fox scooping up the telecast rights, according to a report by Sports Business Journal.

Rod Mickler, vice president of Cox Sports Television, could not be reached for comment Tuesday, nor could anyone with the NBA office. The league, which technically still owns the Hornets (prospective owner Tom Benson is awaiting official approval from the Board of Governors), handled negotiations for the team’s new TV agreement, according to a league source.

— Reported by Jimmy Smith of the New Orleans Times-Picayune