HoopsHype.com Rumors

Word is that Dallas made a determined push this spring to try extricate speedy point guard Bobby Brown of Cal State Fullerton fame from his Italian team Montepaschi Siena, but the price was too high to get the 28-year-old during the season. Brown has been one of the best players in Europe in 2012-13 and, after stints with the Kings, Wolves, Clippers and Hornets, is expected to return to the NBA next season with several teams interested. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Hornets, Sacramento Kings, Free Agency, Italy, Bobby Brown, Montepaschi Siena 

With his former team in town on Friday for the rematch at Verizon Center, Ariza is healthier – though he is dealing with a sore left knee – and has finally found a comfortable role on the Wizards. But he isn’t trying to place any special meaning in facing the team that traded him, along with Emeka Okafor, last June in a deal for Rashard Lewis’s expiring contract. “I’ve been on a number of teams,” Ariza said with a grin. “Treat it like it’s a regular game. Not really worry about me, or individual things, but this is not an individual sport. It’s a team sport. Just stick to our game plan and do what I need to do.” Washington Post

New Orleans Hornets, Washington Wizards, Trade, Rashard Lewis 

When asked about the situation last June, Ariza said: “It is what it is. I loved my teammates there. They are all great players. I did everything I can to help them. Even when I wasn’t playing, I still encouraged all the players to be all they can be, to continue to work hard. I still did what I needed to do, to stay in shape, to keep my game going to try to get better. When they realized they wanted to bring Farouq along, I was all for it. It’s not my team. It’s their decisions to make and I’m just a player in this league.” Washington Post

New Orleans Hornets, Washington Wizards, Trade, Rashard Lewis 

Having backed up Mike Conley in Memphis as a rookie, and Jack last season, Vasquez said he wasn’t nervous or intimidated when the Hornets decided to put the team in his hands after dealing away Jack. “I was like, ‘This is my shot.’ Timing is everything,” Vasquez said. “Jarrett Jack got me better. I used to go to practice thinking, ‘I have to go at his neck.’ He was going at me. At times he was killing me and it got me better to the point that I’m having the season I’m having right now. But I would trade some of my individual success for more wins. Because my rookie year, I experienced being in the playoffs and I want to get back to that.” Washington Post

New Orleans Hornets, Greivis Vasquez 

After earning the Most Improved award, Anderson moved to the Hornets in a sign-and-trade as the Magic were broken up amid Dwight Howard's exit. "It's funny, playing on that team now [in Orlando], Jameer [Nelson] is the only guy I know on the court, and it's pretty unbelievable, in one year," Anderson said of Orlando's roster turnover. "That's why it's so encouraging to be on a team like this [in New Orleans]. We have had a tough season, and I've been through injuries, and we have a young group. We can make all the excuses in the world, but the bottom line is we're going somewhere and we're building for something. This isn't the year that we're saying let's make a playoff run and try to get to the Finals. But that's in the future for this group. It's really exciting. It's a huge blessing to be here. "You ask me what's my goal here? My goal is to win. My goal is to do whatever I can to help this team win and kind of prove that we are this team that has this great potential." SI.com

New Orleans Hornets, Ryan Anderson 

Gayle and Tom Benson have pledged $5 million to Loyola University for scholarships for undergraduate students needing financial help. The gift, which Loyola announced Thursday, will be distributed over five years. The money will be divided into two parts, with $1 million for immediate-use scholarships and $4 million for an endowment that will generate financial aid for sophomores, juniors and seniors who have a grade-point average of at least 3.0, said Chris Wiseman, Loyola's associate vice president for development. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Tom Benson 

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has signed guard Jannero Pargo to a 10-day contract. Pargo will wear No. 5. The Bobcats roster stands at 15 players. The 6-1 Pargo is in his ninth NBA season and has career averages of 6.4 points, 2.0 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 443 games played with the Lakers, Raptors, Bulls, Hornets, Hawks and Wizards. For his career, Pargo has shot .388 from the field (1104-2845), .350 from beyond the three-point line (338-966) and .867 from the free-throw line (301-347). He has also seen action in 40 playoff games, averaging 5.8 points, 1.5 assists and 1.4 rebounds in the postseason. NBA.com

Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, Rod Higgins, Jannero Pargo 

Veered off Knicks for a night and checked out the Nets and Hornets at Barclays Center. And got to see the rarity, Brook Lopez dunking over his twin brother, Robin, securing a year's worth of bragging rights. “We don’t talk to each other during games,” Brook said. “He dunked on me my rookie year, so this is getting him back. ... I might get him for a little (trash-talk) tonight. I don’t think he’ll want to put up with me though. I know my friends are going to text him though.” Sulia

Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Hornets, Brook Lopez, Robin Lopez 

New Orleans Hornets rookie shooting guard Austin Rivers underwent successful surgery to repair the fractured fourth metacarpal bone in his right hand at Manhattan's Beth Israel Hospital. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Austin Rivers 

The New Orleans Hornets have signed veteran forward Lou Amundson for the rest of the season and released Henry Sims. FOXSports.com

New Orleans Hornets, Louis Amundson, Henry Sims 

Lou Amundson is heading to the New Orleans Hornets. The power forward wrote in a text message Monday to FOX Sports Florida that he will sign with the Hornets for the rest of the season after his 10-day contract with the Chicago Bulls expires at the end of the day. FOXSports.com

Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Hornets, Louis Amundson 

Chris Tomasson: Lou Amundson wrote me in a text message he's signing with New Orleans when his 10-day contract expires with Chicago after today. Twitter @christomasson

Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Hornets, Louis Amundson 

"Chicago was prepared to sign me to another 10-day, but I felt I should go somewhere where I can get a better opportunity to play,'' Amundson wrote in a text message. FOXSports.com

Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Hornets, Louis Amundson 

Kobe Bryant hit the tying 3-pointer with 5 seconds left in regulation, then dunked for the go-ahead basket with 10 seconds left in overtime, helping the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Toronto Raptors 118-116 on Friday night for their second straight come-from-behind win. Two nights after rallying from 25 points down to win on the road at New Orleans, the Lakers came back from a 15-point deficit in regulation and a slow start in overtime to gain ground on Utah for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff berth. They also moved a game above .500. Bryant finished with 41 points and 12 assists, making 14 of 16 free throws, and Dwight Howard had 24 points and 13 rebounds. USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

With the advantage of hindsight and more than 36 hours of reflection following Wednesday night's haunting fourth-quarter meltdown in a 108-102 loss to the Lakers, New Orleans Hornets Coach Monty Williams admitted Friday he'd do things differently if he had the chance. And one thing Williams said he might do would be to play rookie power forward Anthony Davis a little more than the 25.5 seconds Davis logged as Los Angeles outscored New Orleans 33-9 in the period and closed out the game on a 20-0 run over the last 6:47. "I would do things differently in the third quarter, when it started to snowball," Williams said, mindful that his team had a 25-point lead at one point in that period. "Any time you lose a game like that, hindsight is 15/20. You feel bad about everything you did. I probably would do some things a little differently. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Coaching, Monty Williams 

Jimmy Smith: #Hornets guard Austin Rivers will have surgery on broken Right hand next week. Likely done for season. Twitter @JimmySmith504

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Austin Rivers 

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have signed guard Terrel Harris to a 10-day contract. Harris, an Oklahoma State product, appeared in seven regular season games with the Miami Heat this season before being waived on January 5th, 2013. Harris was re-signed this last offseason as a free agent by the Heat on September 10th, 2012. In his seven games this season, Harris averaged 1.4 points and 1.3 rebounds in 4.1 minutes. NBA.com

New Orleans Hornets, Terrel Harris 

Marc Stein: With Austin Rivers potentially out for the season after broken hand, I'm told Hornets lining up Terrel Harris for 10-day contract. Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

New Orleans Hornets, Terrel Harris 

Sam Amick: As @Marc Stein noted, Hornets expected to sign Terrell Harris to 10-day deal. Should happen in the morning. Austin Rivers out 4-6 weeks. Twitter @sam_amick

New Orleans Hornets, Terrel Harris 

With rookie guard Austin Rivers out for four to six weeks after breaking a bone in his right hand, the New Orleans Hornets are working on a deal to extend a 10-day contract to former Miami Heat guard Terrel Harris, sources confirmed. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Terrel Harris