(SB Nation, Mike Prada) The Hornets may soon be sold to a new buyer that would keep the team in New Orleans for the foreseeable future, NBA commissioner David Stern said in an interview with NBA.com's David Aldridge. Stern said the league is "very close" with one potential buyer and expects the deal and the new lease in New Orleans to be completed around March 1.

"We're moving on dual tracks on a buyer, and with the state's contribution under a new lease that will likely be complete, both of those, by March 1 or on or about March 1. The deal itself can't close until the legislature confirms the role of the state, and the legislature convenes in March," Stern said.

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Recaps of Hornets win at Bucks...Quotes from players...Carmelo Anthony could return for Knicks vs. Hornets Friday

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Eric Gordon has surgery...Hornets decline to comment on extent of surgery...Louisiana state officials question arena naming rights proposal...Monty Williams says Eric Gordon is happy...Multiple ownership groups on the fringes

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(SB Nation, Mike Prada) When you play in your home gym, you expect some sort of home-court advantage at the very least. Instead, the New Orleans Hornets players found out that their rims weren't level before they squared off against the Utah Jazz on Monday night. Well done, facilities people!

The Hornets ended up winning, so maybe they should check the level of the rims before every game.

(SB Nation, Brian Floyd) New Orleans Hornets guard Eric Gordon is still being hampered by a knee injury and will now undergo surgery, the team announced on Monday night. Gordon has missed all but two games with a sore left knee, an injury he's been unable to recover from.

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The NBA announced its "Rising Stars Challenge" roster pool yesterday. Unlike previous iterations, the game will feature 18 players on two teams selected by TNT's Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith. Via SBNation, here are the all eighteen invited participants:

ROOKIES: Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers), Derrick Williams (Timberwolves), Tristan Thompson (Cavaliers), Ricky Rubio (Timberwolves), Brandon Knight (Pistons), Kemba Walker (Bobcats), Markieff Morris (Suns), Kawhi Leonard (Spurs), Marshon Brooks(Nets).

SOPHOMORES: Blake Griffin (Clippers), John Wall (Wizards), Evan Turner (76ers),DeMarcus Cousins (Kings), Greg Monroe (Pistons), Gordon Hayward (Jazz), Paul George (Pacers), Landry Fields (Knicks), Tiago Splitter (Spurs).

The Hornets' Greivis Vasquez, Xavier Henry, and Gustavo Ayon could have theoretically qualified, though it's difficult to imagine either Vasquez or Henry trumping the sophomore list, which features primarily starting level players with significantly better minutes, production, and efficiency.

Gustavo Ayon, meanwhile, has a strong case when only efficiency is considered. Here are the rookie leaders in PER for a minimum 15 games played in 2011-2012:

                                                  
                                      Tota        
Rk             Player  Season Age  Tm    G GS  PER
1        Kyrie Irving 2011-12  19 CLE   23 23 21.6
2        Gustavo Ayon 2011-12  26 NOH   18  1 21.0
3        Jimmy Butler 2011-12  22 CHI   16  0 19.5
4      MarShon Brooks 2011-12  23 NJN   17  9 18.4
5      Nikola Vucevic 2011-12  21 PHI   16  3 18.4
6       Tobias Harris 2011-12  19 MIL   16  0 18.1
7           Jon Leuer 2011-12  22 MIL   23  6 18.1
8         Ricky Rubio 2011-12  21 MIN   25 15 17.2
9         Enes Kanter 2011-12  19 UTA   24  0 15.9
10      Isaiah Thomas 2011-12  22 SAC   24  0 14.9

Ayon's candidacy, though, falls short when considering his overall minutes. Monty Williams has simply not used him in the consistently expanded role many Hornets fans have wanted for him, and as a result, his overall counting stats haven't been nearly as impressive.

Donald Sloan, undrafted out of Texas A&M in 2010, has been signed by the New Orleans Hornets to a 10 day deal. The team announced the contract yesterday. Sloan hails from Shreveport, Louisiana and grew up in Dallas, TX where he attended high school before going onto College Station.

Here's the official announcement on Hornets.com:

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have signed guard Donald Sloan to a 10-day contract.

Sloan, a Texas A&M University product, appeared in five regular season games with the Atlanta Hawks this season before being released on January 27. Originally signed by Atlanta on December 9, 2011, Sloan averaged 1.2 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 4.0 minutes of play with the Hawks.

The 6'3" guard has played five games (all starts) for the Erie Bayhawks of the NBA D-League this season, averaging 24.8 points, 8.4 assists and 5.2 rebounds in 40.9 minutes of play. Born in Shreveport, Sloan has appeared in 54 games (38 starts) in the D-League, with career averages of 12.0 points and 4.7 assists.

Sloan, who grew up in the Dallas area, was a first-team Big 12 Conference selection his senior season at Texas A&M, averaging 17.8 points.

Good luck to Mr. Sloan.

Recaps of Hornets loss to Bulls...Quotes from the game...Will Ferrell does pregame intros

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