The New Orleans Hornets announced that they have requested waivers on forward Lance Thomas.

Thomas, a Duke University product, appeared in two regular season games, averaging 0.5 points. In two preseason games (both starts), he averaged 3.5 points and 4.5 rebounds.

The Hornets roster now stands at 14.

The Hornets announced today that they have requested waivers on guard Jerome Dyson.

Dyson, a University of Connecticut product, played in one preseason game with the Hornets, scoring five points in seven minutes of action.

The Hornets roster now stands at 15.

The Hornets traded small forward Quincy Pondexter to the Grizzlies on Saturday in exchange for guard Greivis Vasquez.

Vasquez is a second-year player who averaged 4.5 points and 4.5 assists last season as a rookie with the Grizzlies.

Pondexter was going to be in a battle for minutes with newly acquired Al-Farouq Aminu at the backup small forward spot behind starter Trevor Ariza.

The New Orleans Hornets announced that they have signed forward/center Gustavo Ayón. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.
 
“We are extremely excited about this signing,” said Hornets GM Dell Demps. “Gustavo is someone who we have had on our radar for a while and we believe he is going to be a great addition to our roster. He is a highly coveted international player and we look forward to working with him as he transitions into being an NBA player." 

Ayón (6-10, 250), averaged 15.9 points on 66 percent shooting while grabbing 8.2 rebounds per game this season over 10 games for Fuenlabrada of Spain.

Peja Stojakovic has decided to retire from the NBA.

Stojakovic has received interested from a number of clubs, but back and neck troubles have made it too difficult to continue.

"When you start competing against your body more than you're preparing for the actual game," Stojakovic said, "it's a wakeup call."

In a statement, NBA commissioner David Stern said: "Peja will go down as one of the great shooters in the history of the NBA. His success was the result of a tireless work ethic and an unquenchable desire to be the best at what he did. Peja's legacy, however, goes way beyond his 3-point skills and that elusive Finals title he won last season with the Dallas Mavericks. Peja was part of the wave of international stars that helped introduce the world to the NBA game and inspired thousands of fans to begin playing the sport of basketball."

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have requested waivers on center David Andersen.

The Hornets training camp roster now stands at 16.

According to league officials, renewal rates from existing season ticket holders are coming in at the 80-plus percent range, about the same pace as at the start of last season.

“Teams have been extremely aggressive in their outreach,” said Chris Granger, executive vice president of team marketing and business operations for the NBA. “We’re happy with the pace of sales given the compressed time frame.”

The NBA has 10 of its 30 teams with 10,000 or more full-season ticket plans, the same number as last year.

While league officials would not disclose that list of teams, among the clubs reaching the 10,000 benchmark are Miami, Boston, Chicago, New York, New Orleans, and both the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers.

Acting as the top executive of the Hornets, NBA Commissioner David Stern would not allow Hornets general manager Dell Demps to complete the deal that would have sent Chris Paul to the Lakers and Pau Gasol to the Rockets with Kevin Martin, Luis Scola and Goran Dragic going to New Orleans.

Stern said in a media conference call last week that he was only "generally informed about the discussions with teams." He emphasized that Demps never thought the deal to be complete and that his decision as final say on the move was not unlike the customary role of owners during trade negotiations.

But according to two individuals with knowledge of the talks, Demps had assured Rockets general manager Daryl Morey and Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak throughout the day that Stern and other NBA officials had been given all the details of the deal and had signed off on it.

"He said that David was briefed and that it was a done deal," one of the individuals with knowledge of the talks said. "He (Demps) said multiple times that he briefed both of his local officials, (Hornets president) Hugh Webber and (Hornets chairman) Jac Sperling, and they and Dell at regular intervals were updating (NBA vice presidents) Stu Jackson and Joel Litvin and that they told David himself throughout the day. Also, Hugh and Jac, who were updating the league office, understood it to be a deal."

The  Hornets and 7-foot free agent forward Jason Smith have agreed to a three-year contract.

Smith’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, says the deal is worth $7.5 million.

Smith played for the Hornets last season, averaging 4.3 points and 3.1 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game.

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey refused to answer questions Thursday about the three-team deal rejected by the NBA a week ago, citing legal reasons.

“On the advice of counsel, I can’t talk about it,” he said.

He also would not comment when asked why he had spoken to an attorney, nor would he reveal if the team was considering legal action against the league.

“I understand the focus,” Morey said, “but I just can’t comment right now.”