Forward Nicolas Batum?is back with the Charlotte Hornets.The forward has agreed to a five-year deal worth $120 million, according to ESPN and multiple reports on Friday.Batum had scheduled a Friday meeting with the Dallas Mavericks, but he struck a deal hours into free agency to stay in Charlotte.The Hornets were widely considered the front-runners for Batum because they owned his Bird rights, allowing Charlotte to offer a fifth year on the contract.?The fifth season of the contract is a player option, a source said.Verbal commitments are non-binding. Free agents can officially sign contracts on July 7.The versatile Batum, 27, gradually solidified himself as a superb two-way player in his first six seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. But his seventh saw a major drop-off in production, and Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey shipped him to Charlotte for Noah Vonleh and Gerald Henderson before last season.Playing for Hornets coach Steve Clifford, Batum was reborn, averaging career highs in points (14.9) and assists (5.8). He 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 who 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.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.The contract will carry Batum, who turns 28 in December, right through his prime 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-agent matters. Williams, Jefferson?and shooting guard Courtney Lee are all free agents as well, and the Hornets are also in the market for more shooting, depth and toughness to compete in the East.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Nike Air Force Φθηνα . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. Nike Air Force 1 Ελλαδα .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. http://www.airforce1greece.com/air-force-1-low-greece/i-i-i-i-i-i-i.html . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. Nike Air Force Προσφορες . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. Nike Air More Uptempo 96 Greece . PETERSBURG, Fla. (STATS) -- Sam Houston States six sacks allowed this season are tied for the sixth-lowest total among FCS teams.On Thursday, the NCAA Division I FCS selection committee delivered a sack against the unbeaten Bearkats thats more important than any on the field.The committee lowered the No. 1 team in the STATS FCS Top 25 three spots to No. 5 in their second of three sets of Top 10 rankings preceding its announcement of the 24-team pairings on Nov. 20.Jacksonville State (8-1) had the top spot for the second straight week, followed by Eastern Washington (8-1), five-time defending FCS champion North Dakota State (8-1) and James Madison (8-1), which moved up one spot each. After Sam Houston, The Citadel (9-0) was sixth, followed by Chattanooga (8-1), Richmond (7-2), Central Arkansas (8-1) and North Dakota (8-2).Sam Houston (9-0) hasnt trailed in a game this season, but coach K.C. Keelers squad has fallen behind in the selection committee rankings. The top two seeded teams in the playoffs are guaranteed home games through the semifinals, whose winners will advance to the FCS championship game Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas.Second in the committee rankings last week, the Bearkats fall to No. 5 ironically comes after one of their bigger wins of the season, 56-43 over rival McNeese (5-55).ddddddddddddWhile Sam Houstons 89th ranking in the NCAAs toughest schedule report would be cause for a drop with the committee, it doesnt compute with Jacksonville States 101st-ranked schedule based on cumulative opposition (the winning percentage of past and future opponents). The Gamecocks, last years FCS runners-up, are coming off a less impressive win than Sam Houston -- 17-10 over Southeast Missouri (3-6).Should the teams in front of Sam Houston continue to win this weekend, the Bearkats may not gain with the committee because they play a 1-8 Northwestern State squad. However, their final regular-season game on Nov. 19 could leave a lasting impression as they will host Central Arkansas in a likely pseudo-Southland Conference championship game. Both teams are 7-0 in conference play.The playoffs consist of 10 conference champions which receive automatic bids and 14 at-large selections. Eight teams will be seeded and receive first-round byes, and 16 open play in the first round on Nov. 26.The selection committee will release one more set of rankings on Tuesday during the Championship Drive: Power Hour, beginning at 10 p.m. ET on ESPNU. ' ' '
