Reiseplan » just 159 shots on target between them.

The Charlotte Hornets lived up to their word when they said re-signing Nicolas Batum was their top priority in free agency.Batum agreed to terms on a five-year, $120 million contract with the Hornets Friday morning, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot be signed until July 7.The Frenchman gradually solidified himself as a superb two-way player over his first six seasons in Portland. But there was a major drop-off in production in his seventh season, and Trail Blazers GM Neil Olshey shipped him to Charlotte for Noah Vonleh and Gerald Henderson before last season.Playing for Hornets coach Steve Clifford, Batums numbers improved. He averaged career highs in points (14.9) and assists (5.8) and also grabbed 6.1 rebounds a game for the surprising Hornets, who won 48 games before losing to Miami in seven games in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.Batum rediscovered his two-way, do-everything mold in Charlotte, meshing with Kemba Walker, Al Jefferson and Marvin Williams to give the Hornets some energy and edge, pushing them back into the playoffs for the second time in Cliffords three seasons.Batums defense on the wing was a huge part of Charlottes success and his ability to guard multiple positions helped the Hornets match up against a variety of opponents.As the season came to a close, Batum made no secret of his desire to remain in Charlotte. He was widely viewed as one of the most coveted free agents on the market, the kind of versatile veteran that could make a huge difference on any team he joined.Hornets GM Rich Cho made it clear from the start that the feeling was mutual and owner Michael Jordan said he would spend the money necessary to help the team continue to build on the momentum of last season.Nic is a huge piece. He is our No. 1 priority, Cho said after the season in May. He knows that. We told him that in our exit interview. We love having him here, thought he did a great job. He had a few injuries, but overall he did a great job at both ends of the floor.Batum said during his exit interview that he unfinished business in Charlotte after the Hornets lost in seven games to the Miami Heat in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.When I came here, they let me know they wanted me to be one of the (top) two options with Kemba Walker, Batum said in May. I like that. I like that they trusted me. It was a pretty cool year.Batum also it was the first time he got to play like he wanted to in his eight years in the NBA.Rather than entertain a number of suitors and mull leaving for another offer, Batum made the decision to stay put about four hours after the market opened.We got a deal! Batum tweeted.The contract will carry Batum, who turns 28 in December, right through his prime years and give the Hornets a much-needed veteran presence to build alongside of the dynamic Walker.With Batum in the fold, the Hornets can now turn their attention to other free agents. Williams, Jefferson, point guard Jeremy Lin and shooting guard Courtney Lee are all free agents, and the Hornets are in the market for more shooting, depth and toughness to compete in the East.---AP Sports Writer Steve Reed in Charlotte, North Carolina contributed to this report. Fake White Sox Jerseys . Defencemen Drew Doughty, Shea Weber and forward Ryan Getzlaf also scored for the Canadians, who started their gold-medal defence 2-0. Goalie Roberto Luongo, getting the call in place of Game 1 starter Carey Price, was solid when needed in making 23 saves for the shutout. Cheap White Sox Jerseys . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . https://www.cheapwhitesox.com/ .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. White Sox Jerseys 2019 . Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was good about the clubs recent play. It worked. Chicago White Sox Pro Shop . Schenn scored the game-winning goal and added two assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. Niki Lauda has apologised to Lewis Hamilton for his dramatic engine failure in Malaysia and insisted Mercedes certaintly do nothing against him after the world champions explosive comments to the media.Hamiltons hopes of a fourth world championship were dealt a major blow in Sepang as his engine went up in a ball of flames 16 laps from the end, giving Nico Rosberg a 23-point lead with five races to go. The Englishman has suffered a spate of engine failures this season and after the race questioned Mercedes, saying someone doesnt want me to win in the TV pen.When asked how he reacted to Hamiltons comments Lauda, the teams non-executive chairman, replied: Im really upset about myself and my organisation because we shouldnt let him down with an engine failure. Engine failures can happen but we have to analyse more carefully what went wrong.It was a fairly new engine, so it was not something old we put in his car, so we did everything possible to make him finish all the races. What went wrong? I do not know, we will find out and correct it. I feel persoonally very sorry about him and these things can happen.ddddddddddddLauda is certain he can convince Hamilton there is no hidden agenda to deny him the world championship.I can convince him and say certainly we do nothing against him. We are people working for him, we are proud of him and these things happen.From our point of view we do everything possible that he finishes the race and he has finished so many races, he won already two championships so on this side we are well balanced. Unfortunate that it happened to him, I will apologise and then we have to keep on going.The Austrian thinks he can lift Hamiltons spirits in the short turnaround before the Japanese Grand Prix in seven days time.I take him to Japan tomorrow morning in my plane and then I hope I can bring him up because the championship is over when the last race is over. So 23 points is a lot he has to gain but you never know what happens to the other guy. ' ' '