New Orleans Hornets Reward GM Demps With Extension

Brian A. Westerholt/Getty Images(NEW ORLEANS) --  New Orleans Hornets general manager Dell Demps has agreed to a new multiyear contract extension with the team.

Terms of the contract were no released, per club policy.

The 42-year-old Demps has completely overhauled the club's roster since he took the job in 2012.  The team is off to a 3-3 start and is showing promise.

The roster is filled with players age 25 or younger including this year's top draft pick Anthony Davis, rookie point guard Austin Rivers, and star shooting guard Eric Gordon.

Demps was also responsible for sending All-NBA point guard Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers in a trade last year for a slew of young players and draft picks.

Executive Vice President Mickey Loomis says Demps "has a bright future," and that both he and first-year owner Tom Benson "couldn't be more impressed" with the direction of the team.  Benson is also the owner of the NFL's New Orleans Saints.

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No Evidence of Saints Wiretapping

Leon Halip/Getty Images(NEW ORLEANS) -- Louisiana State Police investigators have found no evidence that the Saints or general manager Mickey Loomis set up Superdome wiring so opposing coaches' radio communications could be heard.

"This has been an intensive investigation, and after numerous interviews we have determined that there is no evidence that state laws have been violated," State Police Col. Mike Edmonson said Monday.  "This is based on what we know today. If any new allegations would come up we would certainly pursue that."

"This is not anything to do with the FBI or the U.S. Attorney's office. We find out whether or not there's any evidence to show criminal wrongdoing and base it on state law," he continued.

Both the FBI and state police investigators have been working together since reports of eavesdropping allegations came up in April.

Edmonson met with Saints owner Tom Benson to tell him the news on Monday.  Edmonson said Benson "was happy, of course," when he received the latest investigations.

"We found no corroborating evidence that Mickey Loomis or anybody in the Saints was engaged in wiretapping or eavesdropping," Edmonson said.

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Owners Approve Sale of Hornets to Benson

NFL via Getty Images(NEW ORLEANS) -- The NBA's Board of Governors has approved the formal sale of the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday to New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson.

The formal sale is expected to close later this week.  Benson's first duty will be signing the expected No.1 pick Anthony Davis in this year's draft.

In April, Benson agreed to purchase the Hornets from the league and officials confirmed a sale price of about $338 million.

In what looks to be a bright future for the club, free agent guard Eric Gordon has said he plans on testing the market come July.  Once Davis is locked up, the team can shift their attention at bringing back Gordon.

New Orleans finished 21-45 making them last in the Western Conference in 2012.

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Hornets Win NBA Draft Lottery

National Basketball Association(NEW YORK) -- The New Orleans Hornets won the NBA Draft Lottery Wednesday night, giving the team rights to the first pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. The Hornets had a 13.7 percent chance, the fourth best of any team, of obtaining the pick.

"We just feel blessed to be in this position," Hornets head coach Monty Williams said. "It's great for our city, great for the state of Louisiana and I'm really excited right now."

The Charlotte Bobcats, who finished last season with the lowest winning percentage in NBA history, had a 25 percent of winning, the best in the lottery. It becomes the eighth straight team not to win the lottery when having the best odds.

The NBA Draft takes place June 28 in Newark, New Jersey.

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New Orleans Saints Owner Tom Benson to Buy the Hornets

NFL via Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The New Orleans have fallen on hard times lately, but there is hope on the horizon. New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson is purchasing the team for $338 million.

The NBA has been trying to sell the team since the league bought the team from founder George Shinn in December 2010. The team does have lease for the Hornets to remain in New Orleans Arena through 2024. The new lease agreement also calls for $50 million in improvements for the team's arena.

The 84-year old Benson is a New Orleans native and has been owner of the Saints since 1985. During his run as owner of the Saints, the team won the Super Bowl back in 2010. The Hornets were originally located in Charlotte, but moved to New Orleans in 2002.

"We expect this club to be one of the most outstanding clubs in the league, otherwise, I don't want to get involved," Benson said. "This is just a good thing and I'm just glad to be a part of it."

Benson and the Hornets have a lot of work to do before they become a force in the NBA. Going into Friday night, the team is just 16-42.

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Saints' Sean Payton Apologizes For Bounty Program

Chris Graythen/Getty Images(METAIRIE, La) -- New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton apologized on Friday for his unwillingness to stop a bounty system he was a part of for three years under his watch, saying he takes "full responsibility" for the program.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday suspended Payton for the 2012 season, effective April 1, for his participation in the program.

"I share and fully support the league's concerns and goals on player safety," said Payton in a written statement released by the team. "It is, and should be, paramount.  Respecting our great game and the NFL shield is extremely important to me," Payton added, referring to the league's famous logo."

After extensive research, the NFL has said the bounty program started in 2009, the same year the Saints won the Super Bowl.

Goodell fined the Saints $500,000 and took away second-round draft choices in 2012 and 2013 and also suspended former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams indefinitely for being the ring leader behind the program.

Payton also thanked team owner Tom Benson, his players and Saints fans "for their overwhelming support."

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Saints Charged with Maintaining "Bounty" Program

Scott Boehm/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The New Orleans Saints have been found guilty of maintaining a "bounty" program funded primarily by players in violation of NFL rules during the 2009, 2010, and 2011 seasons, according to the NFL on Friday.

Between 22 and 27 defensive players on the Saints, as well as former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams continued to maintain a program.

Fines, suspensions, and forfeiture of draft choices will be determined by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

"It is our responsibility to protect player safety and the integrity of our game, and this type of conduct will not be tolerated," Goodell said in a statement.  "Our investigation began in early 2010 when allegations were first made that Saints players had targeted opposing players, including Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinals and Brett Favre of the Minnesota Vikings," Goodell said. "Our security department interviewed numerous players and other individuals. At the time, those interviewed denied that any such program existed and the player that made the allegation retracted his earlier assertions. As a result, the allegations could not be proven."

Even though Saints owner Tom Benson instructed coaches and general manager Mickey Loomis to stop the bounty during the 2011 season, it still continued according to the NFL.

"We recently received significant and credible new information and the investigation was reopened during the latter part of the 2011 season," Goodell said.

On Friday Benson released this statement after news broke.

"I have been made aware of the NFL’s findings relative to the “Bounty Rule” and how it relates to our club. I have offered and the NFL has received our full cooperation in their investigation. While the findings may be troubling, we look forward to putting this behind us and winning more championships in the future for our fans."

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