HoopsHype.com Rumors

Robin Lopez: Looked upto @JasonCollins34 growin up in LA, been the best role model from grade school to the NBA. Blessed to know him & his fam #NBAFamily Twitter @eegabeeva88

Jason Collins, Robin Lopez 

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 

“How often do you get a chance to have the Super Bowl take place in the same city where you live?” said Hornets center/forward Jason Smith, explaining his decision to buy tickets. Smith is joined by Ryan Anderson, Anthony Davis, Eric Gordon, Robin Lopez, Roger Mason and Greivis Vasquez among Hornets players who bought Super Bowl XLVII tickets. Kick-off in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome – which is literally across Girod Street from the Hornets’ home arena – is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Central, giving players plenty of time to rest after a roughly three-hour flight from Minneapolis. Like several of his teammates, Smith said that his preference would have been to root for the Hornets’ NFL brothers, the New Orleans Saints. With no obvious reason to cheer for either participating team, Hornets players are split evenly between Baltimore and San Francisco. NBA.com

New Orleans Hornets, Greivis Vasquez, Roger Mason, Robin Lopez, Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson, NFL, New Orleans Saints, Jason Smith, Anthony Davis 

Lopez, who was booed during player introductions, agreed to a three-year, $15.3million contract to become New Orleans’ starting center in the sign-and-trade deal, but the final two years are team options — a curious concession by Lopez, but he is happy. “Who doesn’t want to start, first of all?” said Lopez, who started 94 games for the Suns, including some after Marcin Gortat’s arrival. “It wasn’t so much starting, but maybe more minutes and just a fresh opportunity. “I think it was something definitely that was needed for both myself and the Suns as well.” “They definitely made a fair offer. I just think it was time for a change.” NBCSports.com

New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, Robin Lopez 

John Reid: Hornets Coach Monty Williams: ``Robin (Lopez) has had a decent preseason, but I still see room for improvement in his game.'' Twitter @JohnReidTP

New Orleans Hornets, Monty Williams, Robin Lopez 

Most people know by now that Brook Lopez is a comic book fiend. During the Brooklyn Nets’ media day, he noted that he’s coming to Brooklyn all the time, mostly to check out Bergen Street Comics. But Brook is more than just a reader — he’s a writer, too. “My twin brother (Robin) and I, we’re always writing, creating stuff,” Lopez said after practice today. “A lot of it’s action & adventure, but it takes from a lot of different genres.” He’s also hopeful about getting things published. “We have lots of finished ideas, we need to work on getting them published now. We’ve been in a lot of meetings with a lot of different companies. It takes time, and in this offseason a lot was going on.” netsarescorching.com

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

Jokester Kevin Love has been known to take some hilarious Twitter pictures. Like the time he tweeted an awkward picture of Team USA sleeping this summer. Or the time he tweeted a picture of himself looking 12 years old after shaving. The above photo might be his best work yet. Love tweeted, "Just chillin' with Brook and Robin Lopez" with a photo of himself posing next to two cavemen in a museum. USA Today

Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Hornets, Kevin Love, Brook Lopez, Robin Lopez 

Lopez said he believes that when he and the 6-11 Davis are on the floor together on the defensive end, opposing players are going to have a tough time scoring on drives to the hoop. “From what I’ve seen of him, he’s fantastic,” Lopez said of Davis, who was the star of Kentucky’s 2012 national title team. “He’s got great timing, long athletic. I don’t think I’m too bad of a defensive player, so we make a heck of a tandem down there on the defensive end. Hopefully we can kind of close down some lanes.” The Advocate

New Orleans Hornets, Robin Lopez 

Lopez said that although he is eager to do more basketball-related training on the court with his new teammates, he is trying not to rush back with more than two months still remaining before the regular season opens. The 24-year-old makes no secret, though, that he views his move to the Big Easy as a fresh start after struggling to live up to expectations as Phoenix’s 2008 first-round draft choice (15th overall). The Advocate

New Orleans Hornets, Robin Lopez 

What was your initial reaction when you found out you were coming to a new team and were a new member of the Hornets? Robin Lopez: I was really excited to be here and was anxious to start the season. There are a lot of great guys on this team, and it’s a good, young, energetic core. I was excited to be a part of that. NBA.com

New Orleans Hornets, Robin Lopez 

Speaking of hair, from @BBBlockParty: Is “Sideshow Rob” an acceptable nickname for you? Robin Lopez: Oh yeah, that’s fine! I love The Simpsons and am a huge Simpsons fan. I love Kelsey Grammer and am a big Sideshow Bob fan as well. So of course it’s OK. NBA.com

New Orleans Hornets, Robin Lopez 

Since 2009, Lopez has had a foot fracture, a bulging disk and knee problems. A week after the Hornets acquired Lopez last month in a trade with the Phoenix Suns, he underwent successful surgery to correct a tear of his medial meniscus in his left knee. Lopez, however, has been doing his rehabilitation work at the Alario Center and is on schedule to be fully recovered before training camp begins this October, according to the Hornets. ``Right now I feel great honestly,’’ Lopez said Thursday at the Alario Center, his first media availability since the July 27 trade. ``I think I’m going to play it safe obviously. We still have to go before the season starts, so I’m not going to rush it or anything. But I’ll say I’m feeling good and I’m excited to be here.’’ New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Robin Lopez 

John Reid: Center Robin Lopez becomes third Hornets' player requiring offseason surgery.A. Rivers (ankle surgery) and X. Henry (knee surgery). Twitter

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Robin Lopez 

Ben Golliver: Hornets announce C Robin Lopez underwent surgery on medial meniscus tear in left knee. Third surgery for team in last week. Twitter

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Robin Lopez 

Paul Coro: NBA approved #Suns trade: Lopez, Warrick, cash to NO & Lakers '14 2nd-rd pick to MIN to get 1st-rd pick, W Johnson & Miller/Dyson contracts. Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Trade, Wesley Johnson, Brad Miller, Hakim Warrick, Robin Lopez, Jerome Dyson 

Paul Coro: #Suns prez Lon Babby on Lopez: "Robin loved it in Phoenix but he made it clear he was really looking for an opportunity to be a starter." Twitter

New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Lon Babby, Robin Lopez 

The New Orleans Hornets' acquisition of center Robin Lopez and forward Hakim Warrick is now official, according to a league source. Procedural issues in making the trade compliant with the NBA and its collective bargaining agreement rules, prevented consummation of the deal for the last two days. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, Trade, Wesley Johnson, Brad Miller, Hakim Warrick, Robin Lopez, Jerome Dyson 

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team acquired three second-round draft picks and sent forward Wes Johnson and a future first-round draft pick to Phoenix in a three-team trade that also involved the New Orleans Hornets. NBA.com

New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, Trade, Wesley Johnson, Brad Miller, Hakim Warrick, Robin Lopez, Jerome Dyson 

The Wolves received two second-round draft picks from New Orleans: a 2013 pick of the Brooklyn Nets and a 2016 pick originally belonging to the Wolves. Both picks were acquired by the Hornets in a July 13, 2012 trade. The Wolves also received a second-round draft pick from Phoenix, a 2014 pick of the Los Angeles Lakers that the Suns acquired on July 11, 2012. NBA.com

New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, Trade, Wesley Johnson, Brad Miller, Hakim Warrick, Robin Lopez, Jerome Dyson 

Also in the trade, Phoenix sent center Robin Lopez and forward Hakim Warrick to New Orleans and the Hornets sent guard Jerome Dyson and center Brad Miller to the Suns. Johnson spent two seasons with the Wolves, averaging 7.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 144 games (127 starts). Minnesota drafted Johnson in the first round (4th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft. NBA.com

New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, Trade, Wesley Johnson, Brad Miller, Hakim Warrick, Robin Lopez, Jerome Dyson