Charlotte to build $260 million arena

Charlotte, N.C. — Owner Robert Johnson completed a deal with Charlotte that clears the way for construction of a $260 million downtown arena for the NBA expansion team.

Johnson signed nine contracts late Monday, allowing the Charlotte City Council to approve them. The city will exercise options on land for the arena that were to expire Wednesday.

The city gave Johnson two deadlines to sign the contracts, both of which passed before he agreed to them. He did not return a call Tuesday for comment.

Johnson’s NBA team, which will replace the Hornets, will begin play in fall 2004 in the Charlotte Coliseum. The new arena will be ready the season after that.

The city will spend about $50 million on land for the new arena, which the Hornets had tried to get for seven years before finally packing up and moving to New Orleans last summer. The Coliseum Authority and Johnson still haven’t completed a lease on the current Coliseum, where the team will play the 2004-05 season.

Timberwolves’ guard out

Minneapolis — Timberwolves point guard Troy Hudson will miss tonight’s game against the Clippers with a sprained left ankle. Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said Hudson could be ready to play as early as Friday at Golden State.

Davis to play tonight

Westwego, La. — New Orleans Hornets guard Baron Davis is back at practice and expects to play tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers. Davis has missed the past six games with back spasms.

Italian League player poised to ink contract

Dallas — Italian League player Antoine Rigaudeau won’t join the Dallas Mavericks in time to play against the Sacramento Kings tonight.

But he will watch them.

Rigaudeau is scheduled today to be in Dallas to finalize his multiyear contract and take a physical.

At night, he’ll join Donnie Nelson, the Mavs’ president of basketball operations, at a restaurant to watch the game. The 6-foot-6 Rigaudeau, 31, could be in uniform Friday night in Phoenix.