HORNETS-JEFFERSON
Al Jefferson exercises contract option, staying with Hornets
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β The Hornets have announced center Al Jefferson has exercised the third-year option on his contract and will remain with the team next season.
The 11-year NBA veteran will make $13.5 million in the final year of his deal.
The 6-foot-10, 289-pound Jefferson said after the regular season he planned to remain with the Hornets because there was “unfinished business” to attend to after the Charlotte failed to make the playoffs.
Jefferson struggled with injuries last season and appeared in 65 games, averaging 16.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 blocks in 30.6 minutes.
That came on the heels of his best NBA season ever in 2013-14 when he was named third team All-NBA after averaging 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game in his first year in Charlotte.
CLIPPERS-HORNETS-TRADE
Hornets trade Stephenson to Clippers for Hawes, Barnes
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β The Charlotte Hornets have traded guard Lance Stephenson to the Los Angeles Clippers for center Spencer Hawes and forward Matt Barnes.
The Hornets gave up on Stephenson after signing him to a three-year, $27 million contract extension.
It was evident early on that Stephenson wasn’t a good fit in Charlotte. He played in 61 games and started 25. His 3-point shooting percentage was the worst in NBA history. He averaged 8.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 25.8 minutes.
He missed 19 games due to injury.
Hornets general manager Rich Cho says Stephenson was a “consummate professional” during his time in Charlotte.
Cho says in a release that Hawes gives the team a big man who provides outside shooting and brings flexibility on offense, while Barnes brings some needed experience.
PANTHERS-DAVIS
Panthers sign LB Thomas Davis to 2-year contract extension
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β The Panthers have signed outside linebacker Thomas Davis to a two-year contract extension.
The 32-year-old Davis is now under contract through the 2017 season. Financial terms were not released Monday.
Davis, the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year, is entering his 11th season with the Panthers. He says in a release the extension “confirms that I now get to officially end my career as a Carolina Panther.”
Davis was selected by Carolina No. 14 overall in 2005 and has returned from three torn ACLs in the same knee to play at a high level. Davis had 129 tackles, 2 1-2 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery last season.
He’s the second-leading tackler in franchise history with 831 and has started 99 career games, the most by a Carolina linebacker.
DUKE-BROWN
Duke adds Maryland transfer Lexie Brown
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) β Former Maryland guard Lexie Brown is transferring to Duke.
The Blue Devils on Monday announced the addition of Brown to the roster. She will sit out the upcoming season and will have two years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2016-17.
The daughter of former NBA star Dee Brown said last month that she was leaving the Terrapins because she wanted to play closer to her home in Georgia.
Brown averaged 13.3 points per game last season and was picked to the all-Big Ten first team and was a third-team AP All-America selection.
She also was voted the most outstanding player at the Big Ten tournament.
TEN-RODDICK-FISH
Andy Roddick, Mardy Fish to play doubles together in Atlanta
UNDATED (AP) – Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish will play doubles together at the BB&T Atlanta Open next month, and Fish is also going to attempt another comeback in singles.
Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion and former No. 1-ranked player, retired from professional tennis in 2012.
Fish, a former top-10 player, has played just one competitive match since August 2013. He has been dealing with anxiety issues.
The Atlanta hard-court tournament begins the U.S. Open Series leading up to the year’s last Grand Slam tournament.
Play begins in Atlanta on July 27. The U.S. Open starts Aug. 31.
