Gerald Madkins has accepted a position in the front office of the Los Angeles Clippers, becoming the team's director of basketball operations.

Madkins spent the past two seasons with the New Orleans Hornets as VP of Player Personnel.

Madkins was in charge of the college scouting department for the Hornets, but he was based in Los Angeles.

Madkins joins Brian Hagan as another member of the Hornets' front office who has recently left the team. Hagan joined the Bulls' front office as assistant general manager.

Lance Thomas has settled a lawsuit that accused him of failing to pay nearly $68,000 for jewelry purchased while he was at Duke.

Thomas started 39 games for Duke during the 09-10 season.

NCAA spokeswoman Stacey Osburn said Tuesday the organization would not comment on the settlement and what it might mean in terms of investigating the matter.

The New Orleans Hornets have sold more than 12,000 season-tickets, which includes full-season and partial packages.

That figure represents the most since the Hornets relocated from Charlotte to New Orleans in 2002.

The Hornets have been purchased by Tom Benson, owner of the Saints, and they also added Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers in the draft.

Lance Thomas purchased five pieces of custom diamond jewelry worth $97,800 on Dec. 21, 2009 while in the middle of his senior season at Duke. Thomas is being sued be a New York firm for failing to pay the balance of his bill.

Documents included with the suit indicate Thomas made a $30,000 down payment and received $67,800 in credit from the firm, the balance that remains unpaid.

Thomas started 39 games during the 09-10 season, which saw Duke go on to win the national championship.

Thomas played last season for the New Orleans Hornets.

A Duke spokesman said the university knows about the lawsuit and is looking into it.

''We have been made aware of a lawsuit filed by a jeweler against former men's basketball player Lance Thomas and we are currently looking into the matter,'' said Jon Jackson, the school's associate athletic director for media relations.

The New Orleans Hornets have signed 2012 second round pick Darius Miller. 

Miller (6-8, 225) was the 2012 SEC Sixth-Man of the Year, helping Kentucky to the national title in New Orleans while posting averages of 9.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 26.1 minutes per game. The four-year collegian holds the Kentucky record for most games played (152) and is 10^th all-time with 175 three-point field goals made.

Miller was the 46th overall pick.