No extension for Hornets' Gordon
The New Orleans Hornets and guard Eric Gordon failed to reach agreement on a contract extension before Wednesday night's deadline. Gordon will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
Gordon had told Yahoo! Sports on Monday that he was waiting to learn whether NBA commissioner David Stern would grant him an extension. Gordon said he was informed by Hornets general manager Dell Demps that it was up to Stern – who acts as the Hornets' caretaker while the league owns the franchise – to decide whether to extend an offer.
The league approved a four-year offer to Gordon, sources said, but it wasn't enough to sway Gordon to sign.
"In terms of my contract extension, Dell Demps indicated that it's out of his control and NBA commissioner David Stern has the last determination on the contract extension," said Gordon, who will be a restricted free agent this summer if he doesn't sign an extension.
Gordon, center Chris Kaman, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and the Minnesota Timberwolves' 2012 first-round pick were acquired by the Hornets in the trade that sent Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers last month. The NBA gave approval to that trade after previously vetoing a deal that would have sent Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers. Stern has publicly expressed optimism that a Louisiana-based owner will buy the Hornets by midyear.
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Gordon has played in only two games for the Hornets because of a bruised right knee. He averaged 21 points in the two games. Gordon said he was evaluated by a team-appointed doctor in New York on Monday, and was told his right knee had no structural damage. The doctor, Gordon said, recommended he return to basketball activities in three weeks.
"The doctor said my knee will be 100 percent sound with rest," Gordon said.
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