As the New Orleans Hornets ready themselves for their third season, its status as a bonafide NBA city remains unclear.  Last year attendance dropped by 5 percent, as nearly 1,000 season ticket holders did not renew.

In attempts to remedy the decline, the franchise's marketing department has worked to assist the city embrace the Hornets. They have run more TV and radio commercials targeting a youthful demographic recently, and implemented a network of regional sales offices aimed at fans from Biloxi, Miss., to Baton Rouge.

"This is a key season for us," Hornets COO Jack Capella said. "We know the league is watching. I don't know that they are looking at it to see whether basketball can make it in this city, but they are certainly expecting us to perform better than we have in the first two years."

There is reason to be optimistic as the Hornets will shift into the Western Conference, meaning more games with high profile teams such as the Lakers, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Kings and Spurs.

Spencer Stolpen, former president of the Charlotte Hornets, was sentenced to 15 months in prison Monday for scheming to defraud banks to pay off his mounting debts.

Federal prosecutors said Stolpen was facing rising overdue bills in 2002 when he engaged in the fraud scheme. Stolpen pleaded guilty to bank fraud and filing a fraudulent bank loan application.

Free agent Rodney White would love to remain a Nugget, but he also wants to play as well.  "I just really want an opportunity," White said. "I played 13 minutes a game last year. I would like to play some more minutes.

To remain a Nugget White would probably have to take a temporary pay cut as Denver is already $2.3-million under the salary cap.  They also declined to pick up White?s $2.5-million dollar option for next season.

"When I get the playing time, hopefully 2.5 won't even be what we'll be talking about. I just want the best situation right now. I'm not looking for the max dollars."

Given this fact White is still looking forward to the opportunity to remain with the Nuggets.  "I would like to end up back in Denver," White said. "Denver has a chance to go very far, and I would love to be part of that if I'm utilized the right way."

Miami and New Orleans are the two other teams expressing interest in White.

Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Jim Cleamons joined the New Orleans Hornets Wednesday as an assistant coach to Byron Scott.

Cleamons, whose contract with the Lakers had expired July 1 and was not renewed, is a longtime assistant to Phil Jackson with the Lakers and Chicago Bulls. He also was the Dallas Mavericks' head coach for a year and a half.

Cleamons becomes the lead assistant on Scott's staff, joining former Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards head coach Darrell Walker and holdover Kenny Gattison as assistants.

The New Orleans Hornets have signed free-agent forward Rodney Rogers.  

?Rodney will be a great addition to our team,? said GM Allan Bristow. ?He?s played under Coach (Byron) Scott before and his veteran leadership and ability to shoot the ball will make it easy for him to find a solid role with us.?

The 6-7 forward played the last two seasons with the New Jersey Nets where he was coached by Scott in the 2002-03 season and part of the 2003-04 campaign.  He averaged 7.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 69 games last season, with 14.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 15 starts.

Rogers has played 11 years in the NBA, with career averages of 11.2 points and 4.5 rebounds with Denver, the L.A. Clippers, Phoenix, Boston and New Jersey.  He was named the NBA?s Sixth Man of the Year in 1999-00.

Today the Magic made it official and signed swingman Stacey Augmon.

?Stacey (Augmon) was a player we expressed interest in right at the start of the free agent process,? Weisbrod said. ?He had many options and we are excited he decided to join our team. He is a mature leader and as good of a defender that was available.?

Augmon averaged 5.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, and 1.2 apg last season for the New Orleans Hornets.

'Selected in the first round (ninth overall) of the 1991 NBA Draft by Atlanta, Augmon has appeared in 910 regular season games during his NBA career with Atlanta, Detroit, Portland and the Hornets (Charlotte and New Orleans), averaging 8.5 ppg., 3.4 rpg., 1.7 apg. and 1.03 stlpg. in 22.6 minpg. He has also played in 77 career playoff games, averaging 6.0 ppg., 2.3 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 19.1 minpg. Augmon was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1991-92.'