Ex-Clipper Rooks Signs With Hornets

Sean Rooks signed a free-agent deal Monday with the New Orleans Hornets, filling their need for a backup center.

Rooks, 33, averaged 4.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 70 games with the Clippers last season. He has played for five teams in 11 seasons in the NBA after playing at the University of Arizona.

He’ll take the roster spot vacated when reserve Jerome Moiso signed as a free agent with the Toronto Raptors.

Rooks “gives us another big body,” New Orleans Coach Tim Floyd said. “He’s an excellent passer and can shoot from the perimeter. We were intrigued by him because he’s a guy who’s thirsty to win big and was eager to be a part of what we’re doing.”

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The Indiana Pacers have all but given up hope of keeping free-agent center Brad Miller, reportedly considering a six-year, $50-million contract offer from the Utah Jazz.

Newspapers in Salt Lake City and Denver, cities that Miller visited over the weekend, reported Monday that Miller was offered about $8.7 million a season. He made $5.3 million last season with the Pacers.

Pacer Chief Executive Donnie Walsh said Monday he has little hope of retaining Miller. The Pacers cannot match those offers without exceeding the luxury tax threshold and have been unable to lighten their payroll to free up money to spend on Miller.

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Three men pleaded guilty in New York to robbing former New Jersey Net guard Chris Childs of nearly $30,000 in cash and jewelry at gunpoint in October. Shamar Leggette, 21, of Brooklyn, Emanuel Avent, 28, of Queens, and Bernard Owens, 30, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery, admitting that they robbed Childs and his manager, Bradley Morris, outside a Manhattan nightclub owned by Sean “P. Diddy” Combs.

State Supreme Court Justice Bonnie Wittner scheduled sentencing for Aug. 1.

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The Atlanta Hawks have given interim Coach Terry Stotts permission to speak to the Milwaukee Bucks about their vacant head coaching position, the former Buck assistant said.

The Bucks’ coaching job opened up Sunday when George Karl was fired with one year left on his two-year, $14-million contract. Stotts, 45, served as an assistant under Karl during five years with the Seattle SuperSonics and four with the Bucks.