Hornets close to completing deal to move to New Orleans
Baton Rouge, La. State officials and the owners of the Charlotte Hornets were on the verge of completing a deal to bring the NBA team to New Orleans.
"We are a perfect fit. We love New Orleans. We're bringing a very good team here," Ray Wooldridge, co-owner of the team with George Shinn, said after a Wednesday afternoon meeting with Gov. Mike Foster.
Wooldridge and Foster said a deal could be announced today or Friday. However, Foster also urged reporters to listen to his afternoon radio show today for a possible announcement, and officials at the New Orleans Arena called a news conference for today.
Wooldridge said discussions included improvements to the 18,500-seat arena, which is already close to NBA standards, and state help in the sale of luxury box suites and season tickets.
Jack Capella, a lawyer for the commission that runs the Superdome and the neighboring arena, said he believed the state and the owners were working on a memorandum of understanding that would be converted to a lease prior to April 1.
Part of the deal, he said, would include using state construction money to expand the number of arena suites from 44 to 60, and expand with locker rooms and a club area.
Pacers' O'Neal ailing
Indianapolis Indiana Pacers center Jermaine O'Neal will miss at least one game after hyperextending his left knee Tuesday night in a loss to Milwaukee. An MRI exam Wednesday revealed no structural or ligament damage, a team spokeswoman said. O'Neal did not travel to Milwaukee for Wednesday night's game and will be re-evaluated Friday. O'Neal entered the game averaging 18.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and had 87 blocked shots, all team highs. O'Neal bruised his lower back eight games into the season. He missed three games and the Pacers lost all three.
Hornets' Brown hurt
Charlotte, N.C. Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Brown re-injured his ankle during Wednesday's practice but said he didn't expect to miss any playing time. Brown first sprained his left ankle earlier this month, causing him to miss one game. He stepped awkwardly during practice Wednesday, causing him to twist it again slightly.
NBA wants Magic to stay in Orlando
Orlando, Fla. The NBA wants to keep the Orlando Magic in central Florida.
"We love having a team in Orlando," NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik said Wednesday. "It's been a great market for us and it's supported the Magic well. It's a little surprising that there's discussion about the team moving. I don't think that's in anybody's head right now."
The Magic's owners said Monday the franchise is for sale. A buyer might want to move the team.
No NBA team moved for 15 years before the Grizzlies went from Vancouver to Memphis before this season. On Wednesday, Charlotte's mayor said the Hornets want to move to New Orleans.
Crotty out with tendinitis
Salt Lake City Utah Jazz guard John Crotty left Wednesday night's game with Seattle in the second quarter with inflamed tendinitis in his right knee. The 6-foot-2 Crotty, who had six points in 11 minutes, has not missed a game this season. He left with 3:36 left in the second quarter.
Rodman suit could end
Las Vegas Lawyers do not know if the sudden death of a Las Vegas cocktail waitress makes moot her battery and sex harassment lawsuit against former NBA standout Dennis Rodman. Gloria Chapa, 62, was found dead Sunday at her home in Henderson, Nev. An autopsy determined she died of a heart attack, the Clark County Coroner's Office said. Rodman's lawyer, Corey Eschweiler, said U.S. District Judge Philip Pro has scheduled a hearing Feb. 4 at which he could dismiss the case.
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