Hornets' David West opts out of contract to test free agency

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — David West is uncertain whether his NBA future lies in New Orleans or elsewhere.

What the Hornets' leading scorer knew for sure on Monday was that he wasn't going to allow recent reconstructive surgery on his left knee to scare him away from free agency.
"It's about making the best decision right now for my family," West said in a phone interview in which he explained his decision to opt out of the final year of his contract.
"It's not taking New Orleans out of the equation, just an opportunity to sign a better deal, and an opportunity to make sure the decision I make for the next three to four years puts me in the best possible situation to win — not just winning and making the playoffs, but legitimately having a chance to compete for championships."
West, a two-time All-Star who was drafted 18th overall by New Orleans in 2003, started 70 games last season, averaging 18.9 points to go with 7.6 rebounds before tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament during a victory at Utah on March 24.
While the injury could undermine his value on the open market, West, whose offseason hobbies include boxing, said he was not inclined to succumb to fear of the unknown.
After gauging the progress of his rehabilitation and mulling options with his agent, Lance Young, West walked away from the $7.5 million he would have made to play in New Orleans next season.
Hornets general manager Dell Demps said he still hoped to bring West back.
"We have had open communication with David this entire season about his option and knew with either decision that our intention is to pursue David so he can finish his career as a Hornet," Demps said.
West had surgery April 12 and his rehabilitation is expected to take six to eight months, but he said he already is jogging on a treadmill, keeping up his weight training and even doing some low-impact work on the basketball court, such as set shots.
"Two days after surgery I dove headfirst into rehab. I haven't let up. I'm going six days a week," said West, who'll be 31 on Aug. 29. "I'm really attacking it and I feel good. I haven't had any pain."
It is not clear when free agency will begin because the NBA's collective bargaining agreement expires at the end of this month and a lockout is widely expected to follow. However, West said he was confident that "players and owners are going to get something worked out, whether sooner or later, that's fair on both sides."
Even if the lockout drags on, that could help West by giving him more time to recover before free agency begins.
West's decision means the Hornets must find a starting power forward through free agency, whether that means bringing back West with a new deal, re-signing fellow free agent Carl Landry, or finding someone else.
New Orleans did not add to its roster during last week's draft. Because of past trades, the Hornets did not have a first-round pick and only one pick in the middle of the second round, which they sold to the New York Knicks for about $750,000.
After West went down last season, Landry, who had been acquired in a trade that sent Marcus Thornton to Sacramento in February, moved into West's starting power forward spot. The Hornets won five of their last 10 regular season games to finish at 46-36, good enough for the seventh playoff seed in the Western Conference.
If Landry also chooses to go elsewhere, that would leave the Hornets thin at power forward.
New Orleans currently has only five players under contract: guards Chris Paul and Jarrett Jack; center Emeka Okafor; small forward Trevor Ariza; and second-year swingman Quincy Pondexter. Center Aaron Gray also opted out of the last year of his contract on Monday, while shooting guard Marco Belinelli and forward Jason Smith are both restricted free agents whose future with the Hornets remains uncertain.
West said he spoke to Paul on Monday morning about his decision and that Paul, who has played with West his whole career, took it well.
"He understands what's going on," West said. "I'm not leaning any particular way or anything. It's just an opportunity to see what's out there, and a chance to play on that (championship) stage late in the year."
If New Orleans is unable to lure West back or otherwise put together a competitive roster by next season, the club could be more inclined to see what they can get in a trade for Paul. The Hornets have so far rebuffed trade offers for Paul, a four-time All-Star and 2008 Olympic gold medalist who is the face of the franchise. But Paul will have the right to opt out of his contract after next season, meaning the Hornets would lose him without getting anything in return if they failed to either trade him or sign him to an extension.
The direction the Hornets go on that front may depend on who owns the team by then. Currently, the NBA owns the club, but the league wants to find new owners who are committed to keeping the Hornets in New Orleans.
In order to assure prospective buyers that the franchise will be able to financially stay afloat on the bayou, the club has called on the community to help them reach a season ticket base of 10,000. The Hornets have sold about 8,300 season tickets so far, but it remains to be seen how tough of a sell season tickets will become now that one of their best players has confirmed his decision to enter free agency.
West was popular in New Orleans not only for his steady production on the court but his charitable work in the region. He often spoke of being moved by his interaction with people who suffered during Hurricane Katrina, particularly children, and took part in numerous activities to promote the city's recovery.
"I've enjoyed my time in New Orleans," West said. "Off the court, my wife, myself, my family, we tried to be as productive in the community as we could. It was important to us."
West also stressed that he liked playing for Monty Williams, who in his first year as an NBA head coach led the Hornets back into the playoffs this past season.
"In terms of my production last season, I felt like he was a really big part of that because of the way his basketball mind is, his approach to the game and his approach to work," West said. "He knows where I am in terms of wanting to win and wanting to make sure that the team is going in the right direction."

Bengals in depth: What lies ahead if Carson Palmer is gone?

The NFL lockout has dampened the usual offseason analysis of each team's comings and goings. But, lockout or not, the league will still be moving on at some point -- hopefully in time for the 2011 regular season to start on time on Sept. 8. And during the labor impasse, USA TODAY will focus back on the field by breaking down the five biggest questions facing each team for the 2011 season.

Up today: The Cincinnati Bengals

1. Will the Bengals be better off making a fresh start without unhappy quarterback Carson Palmer?

It's hard to make a case for that, especially this coming season. Palmer, who sustained a major knee injury in the 2005 season, isn't as mobile as he once was. He missed most of the 2008 season with an injury to his throwing elbow. But in the past seven seasons with the Bengals, he has thrown for 154 touchdowns.He knows the defenses of the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Now, he wants out, though Bengals owner Mike Brown said he won't trade Palmer. The quarterback put his Cincinnati home up for sale in March. Whether the Bengals trade him or he retires, it certainly appears he is finished in Cincinnati. Maybe the Bengals can find a veteran quarterback in free agency. As of now, the veteran QBs on the Cincinnati roster are Jordan Palmer (three seasons) and Dan LeFevour (one season). Neither has started an NFL game. Rookie Andy Dalton, a second round pick from TCU, will compete for the starting spot. It would have been ideal to have him watch and learn behind Palmer for a season. Now, Cincinnati could be starting over at the quarterback position in a division where Pittsburgh has Ben Roethlisberger and Baltimore has Joe Flacco.

2. Will the Bengals be better off without T.O. & Ocho combo at wide receiver?

The potential definitely is there. Terrell Owens had a one-year contract last season and won't be back. Chad Ochocinco has a year left on his Bengals contract but it remains to be seen whether they keep him. But help is on the way. With the fourth pick in this year's draft, the Bengals selected wide receiver A.J. Green from Georgia. "I had a lot of people speak to me about what a dynamic player he is. He gives us a great threat, plays at a high level, does a great job running after the catch and has been a complete receiver," coach Marvin Lewis said after the pick. In addition, Jordan Shipley had 52 catches for 600 yards and three touchdowns last season. Jordan Simpson, going into his fourth season, had a pair of big games in the final two weeks of last season (18 catches, 247 yards and three touchdowns). That adds up to promise for the future. The Owens-Ochocinco combo didn't offer that.

3. Can Marvin Lewis deliver a consistent winner?

In eight seasons under Lewis, the Bengals have been a roller coaster team. They won the AFC North in 2005 with an 11-5 record. They won it again in 2009 with a 10-6 mark. But those are his lone winning seasons in Cincinnati, and he's 0-2 in the postseason. Last season, the Bengals were among the league's bigger disappointments as they dropped to 4-12. But Lewis agreed to a contract extension in early January. He's been in this position before. In 2008, the Bengals were 4-11-1. They rebounded in 2009 with their division title run. That year the Bengals had Palmer at quarterback, Cedric Benson ran for 1,251 yards, the defense played solidly and Lewis was chosen as Coach of the Year. Palmer wants out this year. Whether the Bengals can retain Benson remains uncertain with NFL free agency on hold. But when he agreed to an extension, Lewis sounded like a coach making a fresh start. "I feel there is a conviction behind what my vision is. I think that the beams are more focused," he said.

4. What is the Bengals' top free-agent priority?

Keep Benson. He has run for 2,362 and 13 TDs in the past two seasons. He is a workhorse. The Bengals will especially need that if Dalton becomes their quarterback. After last season, Cincinnati parted ways with longtime offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski. They have replaced him with Jay Gruden, a former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive assistant under his brother, Jon. Gruden could be busy enough nurturing Dalton. "He's going to be a great quarterback in this league, in my opinion," Gruden said after the draft. But having a runner such as Benson in the backfield would be a key asset if Dalton is under center.

5. What are the Bengals' biggest problems ahead?

There are two of them: the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the AFC North, these are two teams that build solidly through the draft. They play with consistency year after year. Both have talented, franchise quarterbacks. In other words, right now they are everything the Bengals have not been. It will take a major about-face for the Bengals to get to that level. Pittsburgh and Baltimore aren't going away. The four games against them represent one-quarter of the Bengals' schedule. In 2009, Cincinnati swept the division, also including the Cleveland Browns, at 6-0. Matching that is a tall order, but Cincinnati at least has to get competitive again with the big two.

Strong quakes again rock shaken New Zealand city

A series of aftershocks rattled New Zealand's quake-devastated city of Christchurch again Monday, toppling one of the few buildings still standing downtown and sinking thousands of homes into darkness.

Bricks came crashing down in the cordoned-off city center, where only workers have tread since it was devastated in February's major earthquake. About 200 people were there when the quakes struck Monday, and two were briefly trapped in a church. In all, 10 people were injured in the city.
"We are being enveloped with dust," Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker told New Zealand's National Radio. "It is very, very scary."
All across the city, people fled buildings in panic when a 5.2-magnitude quake struck during lunchtime; just over an hour later, a 6.0 hit, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Other smaller quakes were also recorded.
In the central city and nearby suburbs, several buildings were damaged.
"All the shops have fallen down," said Renee Murray, who works at a Domino's Pizza in a suburb. "Half of the roof has fallen in (but) they have not fully collapsed."
The city has been shaken by thousands of aftershocks since the 6.3-magnitude quake killed 181 people on Feb. 22. Like that tremor, Monday's two biggest quakes were very shallow, both around six miles (10 kilometers) deep, according to the USGS.
The shallow depth of the February quake and its proximity to the city helped magnify its destructive force.
On Monday, about 47,000 homes in the city's eastern suburbs were without power as they headed into a cold winter night. Rocks tumbled down hills in the area, which was among the hardest hit in February, and slit bubbled up from the earth — a process known as liquefaction that sometimes happens during a quake.
After the February quake, 300,000 tons of silt had to be scraped away, and the silt alone made thousands of homes uninhabitable.
On one road Monday, an SUV tipped front-first into a sinkhole that opened in the tarmac as it drove past. A police car sank into another.
Roger Sutton, chief executive of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority, said the extra damage to the city center means that some buildings that had been salvageable "are now seriously damaged and will have to be brought down."
The group's demolition manager "was driving (during the 6.0 quake), and there were buildings coming down in front of him, coming down behind him," Sutton said. "He's very lucky to be alive."
Ten people have been taken to hospitals with minor injuries from falling debris, an ambulance service said. Two of them were salvaging windows from St. John's Church when the building's facade, the last wall standing after February's quake, collapsed. Police said they were rescued and taken to a hospital with cuts and bruises.
Another building nearby fell, according to police, and the dean of the city's cathedral said the collapsed building suffered new damage.
"This has been a setback for Christchurch and its people, but it does not lessen our resolve to rebuild," Prime Minister John Key told reporters. "The people of Christchurch should know all New Zealanders are thinking of them and will continue to support and stand by them in this very difficult time."

Eskimos 'rookie' knocks the rust off

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EDMONTON - Daniel Porter is a rookie all over again.

The reigning Edmonton Eskimos nominee for Most Outstanding Rookie is enrolled in this week’s rookie camp, despite exploding onto the CFL scene with four consecutive 100-yard-rushing games to end the 2010 season.

“I played six games, so that’s why I came back. I’m happy to be back, though,” said Porter, who wouldn’t have been eligible for the early sessions had he played one more game last year.

He didn’t need any more to make his impact felt. The late addition came off the practice roster to fill in for the injured Arkee Whitlock, amassing 603 yards on 86 carries for an average of 7.0 yards per rushing attempt and a pair of touchdowns. While those numbers were stretched out over six games, the bulk came from the four he started, which all tipped the 100-yard mark to earn the team’s nomination for Most Outstanding Rookie.wholesale jerseys

“I came from college, Louisiana Tech, I was doing 100 yards every game anyway,” said Porter, who set the school’s career rushing record in 2009. “And last year, we had a great offensive line. We just pushed behind and got behind them. We just had that bond and went from there, rushed for 100 yards every time.

“I give it all to my offensive line.”

While he’s used to setting the bar high for himself, Porter said he’s not expecting to just come in and pick things up where he left off.

“You never start where you leave off, I’ll just come out here and rebuild,” he said. “I know I’ve got to work hard again. It’s a new season, a new me and everything. I’ve just got to work my way back up there again.”
And what better place to start than some initial steps prior to Sunday’s main camp?

“Better for him, better for us,” said new running backs coach Dennis McKnight. “I don’t care how many years you’ve been in the league, the technique through the off-season gets a little rusty.

“To come in early, I’ve got to believe that by the time the main camp starts, he’s that much ahead with a jump on people.”

Besides, it’s not like he’s going to be put through the ol’ rookie hazing routine.

“Like I told him: ‘You can’t get caught up in that,’ “ said McKnight, who spent 11 seasons as an offensive lineman in the NFL. “I was in my fifth year with the Chargers and I was still coming to camp early with the rookies. Why? I’m taking reps away from that guy trying to get my job.

“You can’t get caught up in egos. If you don’t check them at the practice field or the door, you’re in trouble.”

DAY 1: It’s been a long time coming for Kavis Reed, who took to the field for his first practice as a CFL head coach.

“I’m just excited to be back on the field,” he said. “I saw a lot of very good things from a lot of young guys.”

The coach singled out the performances of ex-NFL receiver Jonathan Holland and Dinos receiver Nate Coehoorn from Wednesday’s session.

IN AND OUT: Eskimos top draft pick OL Scott Mitchell hadn’t completed his medical evaluation in time for Wednesday’s session, while DB Ron Kelly failed his.

Rubio deadline ends for T-Wolves

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While Ricky Rubio mulls coming to the NBA next season, a deadline of sorts came and went on Tuesday without any word on whether the Spanish point guard will be joining the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2010-11.

Under the current collective bargaining agreement, it was the last day Rubio could sign a contract with the Timberwolves and ensure that his deal will fall under the existing rookie wage scale.

Without a contract, Rubio will have to wait until the beginning of the new league year to make his move to the NBA official and with labour unrest looming, it is not certain when that year will begin and what the new rules will be.

A Timberwolves spokesman said it is unlikely the team will comment on Rubio before his European season ends in June. Rubio's agent, Dan Fegan, did not return a message.

It's been a delicate and complicated series of negotiations for Timberwolves president David Kahn, Fegan and Rubio over the last two years. Kahn and assistant GM Tony Ronzone travelled to Spain in May in part to meet with Rubio and try to persuade him to come to the United States.red bottom heels

The Timberwolves drafted Rubio fifth overall in 2009 but he has spent the past two seasons with Regal Barcelona. Kahn had a deal worked out to bring Rubio to Minnesota in 2009, but the then-18-year-old backed out at the last moment, unwilling to pay a buyout that topped $6 million out of his own pocket.

Under NBA rules, the Timberwolves can only offer Rubio $500,000 toward the buyout.

By choosing to stay in Europe for two more seasons, Rubio's buyout has dropped to about $1.4 million. The Timberwolves have been working to line up local endorsements that would cover that amount, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke only on anonymity because he was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.

Signing the contract now could give Rubio a guaranteed contract worth more than $15 million over four years, a number that could be much lower if the owners get their way and win big salary cuts in the next collective bargaining agreement.

He would also realize his dream of playing in the NBA. He is averaging just 6.5 points per game and shooting only 39 percent, but team officials point out that European games are shorter and perimeter defenders are allowed to be much more physical to neutralize his quickness.

The biggest reason for Rubio to decline to sign a contract now is the NBA's labor uncertainty. With the players and the owners still far apart in their demands, the risk of losing games, if not the entire season, remains a concern.

Signing a contract, coming to the United States, and then not being able to play basketball doesn't appear to be a very attractive option for a gym rat who has built his identity with a basketball in his hands.

One more season in Spain also would put him three years out from his draft night. If current CBA rules stay the same, Rubio would be free of the constraints of the rookie wage scale and able to negotiate perhaps an even bigger contract next summer. Even if Rubio does not sign now, the Timberwolves will still hold his rights.

Kahn and the team have expressed confidence, both publicly and privately, that Rubio will be in a Timberwolves uniform next season. A local radio ad promises “more Rubio sightings” and a person with knowledge of Kahn's meetings with several groups of season ticket holders told The Associated Press that the team president has told those fans Rubio will play in Target Center next season.

For now, however, the waiting continues.