The Sacramento Kings will return to the Lawlor Events Center for the first time since 2002 to play the New Orleans Hornets in an NBA exhibition game on Oct. 22, team officials said Wednesday.

Tickets will go sale at noon on Thursday for the game scheduled for 5 p.m. on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno.

"We had great success at the Lawlor Events Center in 2002 when the Kings sold out a previous preseason game at the arena," said Gavin Maloof, co-owner of the Sacramento Kings.

"We look forward to returning to the Lawlor Center this season and hope this is the beginning of a long-term relationship with the great Kings fans of the Reno-Sparks-Tahoe community," he said.

Jeff Bower signed a five-year extension Friday to remain the general manager of the New Orleans Hornets through 2011.

Bower has overseen a dramatic overhaul of the Hornets since he was promoted to general manager in October to replace Allan Bristow. Only four players who went through training camp with the Hornets last season are still on the roster.

"We were all looking for change because nobody was satisfied with an 18-win season," Bower said. "As an organization, we were committed to great change."

Last season, the Hornets had the biggest improvement of any NBA team -- jumping from 18 wins in 2004-05 to 38 last season. Bower followed that by signing free agents Peja Stojakovic, Bobby Jackson and Jannero Pargo, trading for center Tyson Chandler and re-signing forward Rasual Butler in an offseason push to prepare the team for a run to the playoffs.

"It was a big jump from 18 to 38. It was a big jump, but we went into the offseason looking at that and understanding that to get from 38 to 43 or 44 may be even harder than getting from 18 to 38," Bower said.

"A lot of factors are at play there, but the biggest thing is when the difference in making that kind of jump is the difference that separates you from a team that is a potential playoff team to one who's on the outside looking in."

The primary goal for Desmond Mason throughout his NBA career has been to remove the hesitant hitch that formed after a shoulder injury a few years back and became more pronounced last season.

Mason hopes that its elimination will increase his 10.8-point average and 39-percent shooting from the field and 68-percent shooting from the free-throw line, both career-lows acrued last season.

?When you look at him shoot the basketball now you?re going to say, ?My goodness,?? said Mason's agent Roger Montgomery said. ?We?re excited about where he is because it?s a lot better than what it was. And I think that teams are going to have to start respecting him a little bit more when it comes to his outside shot. I think it?s going to make him better and it?s going to make the Hornets better.?

Hornets general manager Jeff Bower said he expects his contract extension to be finalized soon now that the team has all but finished its offseason acquisitions and other team-related business.

?I?ve said this all along, we?ve just been busy getting everything else done,? Bower said. ?I?ve never once pushed it. We?ve agreed in principle, and we?re just waiting on the paperwork to be put together.?

Byron Scott is looking to add an assistant coach to replace the recently departed Jim Cleamons, who left the team to accept a position with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Scott said he has one specific coach in mind, but declined to say who it is. Scott did say the Hornets have been given permission by the coach?s team to contact him regarding a position on the Hornets? staff and that the two parties are currently talking.

?I?m going to either bring in this one guy, and if I can?t, I?m going to stick with what we have,? Scott said.

The New Orleans Hornets officially signed reserve point guard Jannero Pargo to a two-year contract on Wednesday.

In 57 games with Chicago last season, Pargo averaged 4.8 points and shot a career-high 38 percent from 3-point range.

"He's got a well-known reputation for his ability to shoot the ball and his ability to really come off the bench and make things happen quickly," Hornets general manager Jeff Bower said. "He's the type of guy that with his energy and shooting ability and ability to get up the court defensively, he can change the tempo of the game and give you that spurt that you may be lacking."

Gaceta de Canarias is reporting that Gran Canaria of Spain's Canary Islands "is close to signing Hornets forward Jackson Vroman."

This summer, Vroman played for the Dallas Mavericks entry in the Rocky Mountain Revue.

The Hornets would like to hold a portion of training camp in New Orleans and are in the process of determining if it is possible.

General Manager Jeff Bower said leaving the team's temporary base in Oklahoma City to hold camp in New Orleans, where it will return full time after the upcoming season, would be beneficial to the city and team.

NBA commissioner David Stern says he expects the Hornets to play all their home games in New Orleans by the 2007-08 season.

The team has scheduled just six home games for New Orleans in the upcoming season, with the other 35 in Oklahoma City, where the Hornets temporarily relocated after Hurricane Katrina.

Team owner George Shinn expects the team to return home permanently, but said last month he wouldn't rule out a move elsewhere.

However, Stern said a permanent return to New Orleans was the only option at present.

"It will happen," Stern said Sunday.

"We ultimately decide where their games will be scheduled," Stern added. "The following years, our plans are for them to play 41 games in New Orleans."

Another Bull is headed for the Big Easy, with Jannero Pargo agreeing to a two-year, $2.1 million deal with the New Orleans Hornets on Thursday, his agent, Mark Bartelstein, told ESPN.com.

Bartelstein said that Pargo has a player option for the second year of the contract.

Pargo joins another ex-Bull Tyson Chandler, who was traded by Chicago to the Hornets for forward P.J. Brown and guard J.R. Smith earlier in the summer.  Smith was then traded onto Denver after spending less than a week with the team.

Pargo is set to provide insurance for the Hornets starting point guard Chris Paul and recently signed backup Bobby Jackson at the point.