Hornets Will Not Move to Memphis

The Charlotte Hornets, buoyed by a first-round playoff sweep of the Miami Heat and progress in their battle for a new arena, withdrew their application on Wednesday for relocation to Memphis.

Hornet co-owner George Shinn said the fan turnout for Friday night’s Game 3 against the Heat played a part in his decision. A capacity crowd of 22,283 saw the Hornets win, 94-79.

Charlotte’s only other two sellouts this season had 4,000 fewer fans because the Hornets had tarps over the “least desirable” seats until the playoffs.

“As much as the Hornets are an asset to the community, this community has been an asset to the Hornets, and this team belongs to the fans of Charlotte,” Shinn said in a statement.

The Hornets applied with the NBA in March to move the team to Memphis. The Vancouver Grizzlies also applied to move to Memphis, and the NBA said it would evaluate both applications and decide which team, if either, would move.

The application was made even though the team has been in ongoing negotiations with the city of Charlotte for a new arena. Hornet co-owner Ray Wooldridge said at the time of the filing that he did it so the Hornets would have an option if a June 5 referendum on the arena fails.

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Point guard Gary Payton of the Seattle SuperSonics made the NBA’s all-defensive team for the eighth time. Only Michael Jordan made more appearances on the all-defensive team, with nine. Bobby Jones and Scottie Pippen also made it eight times. Payton is joined by center Dikembe Mutombo of the Philadelphia 76ers, guard Jason Kidd of the Phoenix Suns and forwards Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs and Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves. . . . Richard Percudani, the Suns’ scouting director and an employee of the NBA franchise for 18 years, has died of cancer. He was 65.