Eric Gordon Extension Negotiations Fruitless As Guard, Hornets Fail To Reach Deal By Deadline

Eric Gordon, New Orleans Hornets Can't Reach Contract Extension Agreement, According To Report

Eric Gordon did not sign a contract extension with the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday, according to Yahoo!'s Marc Spears.

Eric Gordon Extension Negotiations With Hornets Are Ongoing, According To Source

Negotiations between fourth-year guard Eric Gordon and the New Orleans Hornets on a long-term Early Bird contract extension are ongoing, a league source has told SBNation.com. The source confirmed Yahoo!'s Marc J. Spears' report that the league office has approved a four-year offer for Gordon. The NBA owns the Hornets, and league commissioner David Stern has, according to a Monday report by Spears, thrust himself back into basketball operations for this set of negotiations.

Gordon and the Hornets have until Wednesday to reach a deal. If they do not, Gordon will become a restricted free agent on July 1. The rumor mill has suggested that the Indiana Pacers could toss a max contract offer at Gordon in July if no deal with the Hornets is reached at this point. New Orleans would have the opportunity to match any offer sheet signed by Gordon in July, but teams typically prefer to avoid that scenario if possible.

The league source told SBNation.com that Dell Demps and Hugh Weber, who run the Hornets in New Orleans but were reportedly overridden by Stern in the Chris Paul trade saga, are authorized to cut a deal with Gordon's agent, Rob Pelinka. At what salary level that deal is authorized remains unclear.

For more on the Hornets, please visit At The Hive.

Once Again, David Stern Abuses Authority Of Hornets' Ownership In Eric Gordon Saga

David Stern had so much fun running the New Orleans Hornets during the Chris Paul ordeal that he's doing it again as Eric Gordon seeks his early extension.

Eric Gordon Says Contract Extension Talks With New Orleans Hornets Are In David Stern's Hands

The New Orleans Hornets have until Wednesday to decide if they want to sign Eric Gordon, the centerpiece of the trade that sent Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers, to a long-term contract extension. Otherwise, Gordon becomes a restricted free agent over the summer. Gordon and the Hornets seem to want each other, but he revealed to Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports that a final decision rests with NBA commissioner David Stern, who also owns the Hornets.

"In terms of my contract extension, [Hornets GM] Dell Demps indicated that it’s out of his control and NBA commissioner David Stern has the last determination on the contract extension," said Gordon, who will be a restricted free agent this summer if he doesn’t sign an extension.

The NBA, which purchased the Hornets in December of 2010, has gotten involved in the Hornets' transactions before, with Stern famously vetoing a trade that would have sent Paul to the Lakers. The league is still confident that a buyer will soon emerge to keep the team in New Orleans.

Gordon has missed all but two games this year with a knee injury, but he told Spears that no structural damage was found and he's expected to return in three weeks.

For more on the Hornets, visit At The Hive.

Eric Gordon Open To Extension With Hornets

Eric Gordon is open to a long-term contract extension with the New Orleans Hornets, but they'll have to offer him a good deal -- and he'll have to prove that he's healthy.