National Basketball Association

Reports: Hornets reach deal with point guard Brian Roberts

Published Jul. 13, 2014 8:26 p.m. ET

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Free-agent point guard Brian Roberts has agreed to a $5.5 million, two-year deal with the Charlotte Hornets, according to a person familiar with the contract.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on Sunday on condition of anonymity because the deal has not yet been made public. The person said the deal will be signed this week.

The 6-foot-1, 173-pound Roberts will backup Kemba Walker.

Roberts replaces Luke Ridnour, who was the team's backup point guard last season.

Entering his third NBA season, Roberts has started 47 career games and averaged 8.2 points and three assists in 19.9 minutes per game. He started 42 games last season for the New Orleans Pelicans, averaging 9.4 points and 3.3 assists.

Yahoo! Sports was first to report the agreement.

Roberts, 28, went undrafted in 2008 and spent his first four years of professional basketball playing in Europe.

The Hornets also announced Sunday they have traded guard Scotty Hopson to New Orleans in exchange for cash considerations. Charlotte acquired Hopson on Saturday, along with cash considerations, from the Cavaliers to complete a draft night trade that sent center Brendan Haywood and the rights to forward Dwight Powell, the 45th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, to Cleveland.