OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The New Orleans Hornets made the first splash of the NBA's free-agent signing period, agreeing to terms Saturday with three-time All-Star Peja Stojakovic.

Stojakovic, who last week opted to become a free agent instead of continue playing for Indiana, will sign a five-year deal worth about $64 million with the Hornets, said his agent, David Bauman.
Bauman said Stojakovic will sign as soon as the NBA's moratorium ends next week. NBA teams were allowed to begin negotiating with free agents on Saturday but cannot officially sign players until July 12.

After playing his first seven seasons with Sacramento, the Kings dealt Stojakovic to Indiana in a midseason trade for Ron Artest. He averaged 19.5 points and shot 46 percent from the field in 40 games with the Pacers but then missed four of Indiana's six playoff games against the New Jersey Nets with a right knee injury. The Pacers lost each game he didn't play.

Stojakovic, 29, opted out of the final year of his six-year contract in hopes of getting a long-term deal and a bump in salary. He had been due to earn $8.125 million next season.

Stojakovic is one of the league's most prolific outside shooters, having hit 40 percent from 3-point range over his eight-year career. He and Seattle's Ray Allen are the only two NBA players to make at least 100 3-pointers in each of the past seven seasons.

Last season, he finished 13th in 3-pointers made (162), and was also second in free-throw shooting (91.5 percent).

Prior to his trade to Indiana, Stojakovic missed nine games - including one against the Hornets - with a variety of injuries including a protruding disc in his lower back, a sprained right pinkie finger and a strained groin.

For his career, Stojakovic has averaged 18.4 points and 5.1 rebounds.




feel so sorry for indiana!!!!!!!

That's a complete shock. Good move for the Hornets.

I think this says a lot about JOneal's availability. Right now, the Pacers have 2 1/2 good players in ONeal, Jackson and Tinsley. Thay arent winning asnything with them, so they might consider a coimplete reboot, take picks and expiring, and go for Oden.


Jalen, Nate and Lee for ONeal works. Just a thought.

i wouldve given him this money @ 26 yrs old, not 29. hes not the same player he was 3 years ago with his various injuries.

Lets see how many say BIRD is a genius now !! BIRD traded Artest for NOTHING !!!!! INDY got ZERO returns for Artest !!!!

he dont be sad!!!!! at least indiana is in our conference not the hornets

peja didn't look good last year. i'm not so sure he's gonna regain his old unstoppable form. i think they overpaid.

Posted by BRIGGS:

I would give Boris Diaw this type of contract--thats the type of player worth that money--23-24 years old--just entering prime time skills and body-wise. Should hold value through the contract. Burgeoning Superstar.

You would give Boris Diaw 12 million over 5 years? You are out of your mind. Diaw isn't worth anywhere near that kind of money.

id start diaw with about 6-8 million for 4 years

bird was going to trade artest for maggette...but maggette failed the physical.

he probably didn't have any better offers on the table so he went with peja.

looks like the trade of artest turned out to be like the trade for spree. golden state got jack in return as well.

what would've been stupid was bird giving peja that contract. that's why he drafted shawne williams.

they're going to dump jermaine. they're re-building.

Posted by djsunyc:

bird was going to trade artest for maggette...but maggette failed the physical.

he probably didn't have any better offers on the table so he went with peja.

looks like the trade of artest turned out to be like the trade for spree. golden state got jack in return as well.

what would've been stupid was bird giving peja that contract. that's why he drafted shawne williams.

they're going to dump jermaine. they're re-building.

If they let JO go, I hope he lands with us, I know he will request it, he loves Isiah.