HoopsHype.com Rumors

The 2008 departure of the Sonics has appeared to influence Stern's approach to the movement of franchises -- and therefore made it more difficult for Seattle to regain an NBA franchise. When the Hornets were in danger of being sold to an owner who might have moved the franchise out of New Orleans, Stern took the drastic step of using NBA money to buy the franchise. He was committed to keeping the team in New Orleans and sold the team for $338 million to Tom Benson, the local owner of the Saints, who next season will rebrand them as the Pelicans while entrenching the team in Louisiana. "He can't have a second incident of helping a team leave a market," said an NBA owner of Stern. "Seattle was bad enough. And I'm sure he feels that Seattle had a chance to keep the team the first time around. "The bottom line is that the incumbent always gets the last shot. You don't want teams moving around." SI.com

New Orleans Hornets, Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, David Stern, Tom Benson 

“Obviously, Ryan can shoot the ball, but I am really impressed with the fact he is not afraid to take big shots,” said Williams, whose team wraps up its home schedule hosting the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday and the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. “Sometimes he will take shots that most people will call bad shots but he’s got the heart to take it. “You can tell he has been around good coaching and that’s something I value. He’s a solid guy, which is what we needed in our locker room. He’s a leader in training right now.” New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Ryan Anderson 

New Orleans Hornets rookie F/C Anthony Davis sustained a sprained Medial Collateral Ligament and bone bruise in his left knee during last night’s contest against the Sacramento Kings. Further evaluations and an MRI performed today by team physicians revealed no additional structural damage. As a result, Davis will miss the remainder of the season. NBA.com

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Anthony Davis 

Antonio Vazquez: I'm told the New Orleans Hornets will be officially renamed as Pelicans in a week. Twitter @antoniovv

New Orleans Hornets, New Orleans Pelicans 

Marc J. Spears: Hornets forward Anthony Davis has a sprained MCL & bone bruise in LT knee & will miss rest of season,but there is no other structural damage Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Anthony Davis 

John Reid: Results of Hornets forward Anthony Davis'MRI test expected to be released sometime today Twitter @JohnReid64

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Anthony Davis 

Davis did not return after scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the Hornets' 121-110 loss to the Kings. "I think he's OK, but I don't want to jump the gun,'' Hornets Coach Monty Williams said. "I didn't see the play yet, but he said Marcus landed on his knee. He said he's a little sore.'' New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Anthony Davis 

Scott Howard-Cooper: Anthony Davis leaves locker room limping. Hornets calling it sprained left knee, but say No. 1 pick will have tests in N.O. on Thursday. Twitter @SHowardCooper

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Anthony Davis 

`` He’s a dynamic guard, that’s why I push him,’’ said Williams, who plans to start Gordon for the second consecutive since the incident on Tuesday night when the Hornets play the Lakers at the Staples Center. ``I’m not going to allow him to settle for where he is in his career right now. He’s got to get better. If he gets better, he should be an All-Star someday.’’ Gordon admitted the conflict was a heat of the moment situation that shouldn't be blown out of proportion. ``It got very heated in the moment, but I’m not letting none of that get to me,’’ Gordon said. ``I’m just out here, still trying to play.’’ New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Monty Williams, Eric Gordon 

Gordon’s situation is a little different – he is not happy in New Orleans and hasn’t kept that a big secret. The franchise matched his contract for two reasons – primarily, you don’t get ahead in the NBA letting star level players walk without compensation and secondarily there was a hope Gordon would come around to what the Hornets are building and buy in, especially with all the uncertainties now out of the way. HoopsWorld

New Orleans Hornets, Trade, Eric Gordon 

A majority of fans in New Orleans have not forgotten the comments Gordon made last summer after he became a restricted free agent and agreed to a four-year, $58 million offer sheet with the Suns, which the Hornets matched even though Gordon said his "heart was in Phoenix." The Hornets were unable to pull off a trade involving Gordon before the February trade deadline, but the franchise is still likely to remain open to trading him after this season ends, according to sources Saturday. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Trade, Eric Gordon 

Hornets coach Monty Williams and point guard Eric Gordon got into a screaming match during a timeout with 8:37 left in the third quarter. Millsap had just scored on a putback to put Utah ahead 55-47 and New Orleans called a timeout. Williams was visibly agitated, yelling in Gordon's direction. He had to be held back by assistant coach Randy Ayers after Gordon hollered back at him, and when the team went to the sidelines, Williams continued screaming at Gordon. NBA.com

New Orleans Hornets, Monty Williams, Eric Gordon 

In explaining why he didn’t play Gordon after the third-quarter flare up, Williams said after Friday night’s game they simply decided to go in a different direction. "We needed a little bit more effort getting off those screens,’’ Williams said. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Monty Williams, Eric Gordon 

Gordon sat at the end of the bench, but appeared engaged during timeouts. But after the game, Gordon appeared to be puzzled about getting benched. He also made no mention of the shouting match. He finished with seven points on two-of-three shooting, playing just more than 17 minutes. It was the Hornets’ eighth consecutive loss on the road. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Monty Williams, Eric Gordon 

Hornets Coach Monty Williams said afterward it was a coach's decision that limited Gordon's second-half playing time. Gordon finished with 7 points on 2 of 3 shooting. He played a total of 17 minutes, 44 seconds. "Nothing wrong physically," Gordon said. "It was his decision just to take e out of the game for the rest of the game. I thought we were (in a good flow). You always make adjustments throughout the game. We're down at halftime by two points, and two or three possessions (in the third quarter), I'm out of there. I'd love to figure (it) out. You always want to do what's best for the team. Since he took me out, he took me out. "I definitely wanted to be out there for sure." New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Monty Williams, Eric Gordon 

New Orleans offers some of the world's most renowned restaurants like Emeril's, Commander's Palace and Herbsaint. So what dish has Hornets rookie Anthony Davis fallen in love with since arriving to the Crescent City? Pizza. Specifically from the city's Reginelli's Pizzeria chain restaurant, where his pie of choice is a large with double pepperoni and double sausage. "He eats pizza, man. It's like if anyone says, 'P … I' and then, 'Pizza,' he perks up," Hornets coach Monty Williams said. "This dude has this fascination with pizza. It's unreal." Yahoo! Sports

New Orleans Hornets, Anthony Davis 

Despite the calories and carbohydrates acquired with each meat lover's slice, Davis, a slender 6-foot-11, 220-pounder, has not gained much weight since being drafted No. 1 overall last year. Davis says his high metabolism is keeping him from picking up pounds. Yahoo! Sports

New Orleans Hornets, Anthony Davis 

I don't know what meaning to place on it, but the 3 players who dribble the ball more than anyone in the league are the Blazers' Damian Lillard, the Clippers' Chris Paul and the Hornets' Greivis Vasquez. Or so a GM with access to such analytics tells me. He told me offhandedly, and wasn't sure if Paul was second or fourth, but he was pretty certain those three at least were in the top four, although he couldn't recall who the fourth might be. Sulia

Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Chris Paul, Greivis Vasquez, Damian Lillard 

While the Bucks, Phoenix and Brooklyn pursued Josh Smith right up until the trading deadline, Smith told me Boston, Washington, Philadelphia and even New Orleans were in the mix. Racine Journal-Times

Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Washington Wizards, Trade, Josh Smith 

Roger Mason: RIP to @nba referee Greg Willard. Prayers out to his family and friends. #nbafamily Twitter @MoneyMase

New Orleans Hornets, Roger Mason, Referees, Greg Willard