 | P.J. Brown to stay with Hornets |
 Free-agent forward P.J. Brown agreed to a four-year contract to stay with the New Orleans Hornets, his agent said Saturday. Brown, a 10-year veteran who led the Hornets in rebounding and ranked fourth in the league in field-goal shooting percentage last season, visited several teams, including NBA champion San Antonio, before deciding to remain with New Orleans.
``It was a tough decision, and obviously a number of teams pursued him. But he's been a big part of pro basketball coming back to New Orleans and that is something he takes very seriously,'' Brown's agent Mark Bartelstein said.
A source close to the player, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that the deal would be worth a little more than $8 million per season.
Brown did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Team spokesman Harold Kaufman wouldn't comment. The league's rules on free agency prevent team officials from commenting.
Brown, who made just over $7 million last season, can't officially sign with New Orleans until Wednesday.
Orlando, Miami and Utah also expressed interest in Brown.
Brown averaged 9.0 rebounds and 10.7 points, and shot a career-high .531 from the field last season as the Hornets, reached the playoffs for the fourth straight season, the team's first in New Orleans.
After being knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by Philadelphia, the Hornets fired coach Paul Silas and hired former Chicago Bulls coach Tim Floyd.
Brown was a second-round draft pick, 29th overall, of the New Jersey Nets in 1992. After playing in Greece in 1992-93, he played with the Nets from 1993-96. He signed with Miami as a free agent in 1996, and was traded to Charlotte in August 2000.
In 762 career NBA games, Brown has averaged 9.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 31.8 minutes.
Source: Tsn.ca
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