Report: Mason agrees to deal with Hornets

--The Hornets reportedly have agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent G Roger Mason Jr.

Terms of the deal were not available, but Yahoo! Sports and the New Orleans Times-Picayune both reported the contract agreement, citing league sources.

Mason, 31, played for the Wizards last season, averaging 5.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. The University of Virginia product has played for five teams during the past nine seasons, averaging 7.2 points a game during his career.

--C Robin Lopez and F Hakim Warrick were acquired by New Orleans in a three-team deal.

Phoenix also sent a second-round pick to Minnesota while landing a first-round pick and Timberwolves swingman Wesley Johnson, the No. 4 overall pick in 2010. Minnesota needed to complete the deal in order to sign F Andrei Kirilenko.

The pick the Suns received is lottery-protected for four years and would become two second-round picks if they don't receive it in that span. If it's a first-rounder, it could be one of Minnesota's own picks or one it is owed from Memphis.

To complete their overhaul, the Timberwolves also took on center Brad Miller, who is retiring, and Jerome Dyson, who can be waived at no cost.

--The Hornets have signed their two first-round picks -- forward Anthony Davis of Kentucky and guard Austin Rivers of Duke -- to multi-year contracts. Davis was the first player selected and Rivers was the 10th player selected in the draft.

--The Hornets' team in the Las Vegas Summer League finished with a 1-4 record. F Lance Thomas led the team in scoring (14.0) and rebounding (7.2). Austin Rivers led the team in assists (3.5).

--The Hornets will play a preseason game in Mexico when they face Orlando on Oct. 7 at the newly launched Mexico City Arena as part of NBA Mexico Game 2012. The Hornets are familiar with playing in preseason games outside the United States. In 2008 they played in Berlin and Barcelona. The team also played in Paris and Bologna, Italy before the 1994-95 season.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"Patience is going to be a big thing. We're going to have to manage expectations." --Hornets general manager Dell Demps on the rising expectations for his rebuilding team.

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