Kanya-Living Jewels » am accomplished under first-year coach Steve Clifford

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Michael Jordan anticipates the Charlotte Hornets will make another big splash this off-season. Jordan said Monday with three draft picks and more than $13 million to spend in free agency the Hornets are in position to make a "big difference" in upgrading their roster. "I think we made a difference last year with Big Al (Jefferson) and some of the acquisitions -- and I dont anticipate this year being any different," Jordan said. Behind Jefferson, who was recently named third-team All-NBA, Charlotte made the playoffs for the first time since 2010 -- the year Jordan took over as majority owner. Jordan is hoping Jeffersons success will convince other big-name free agents to come to Charlotte. "I always thought Charlotte was a great destination," Jordan said. "Big Al has proven that you can come here and make a big difference. Hopefully we can look at that and attract some other superstars." Jordan spoke Monday following a presentation at Hornets Nest Elementary school in which he, along with Lowes and Fox SportsSouth, donated $250,000 to Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. The event marked the organizations first community service initiative since the changing its name from Bobcats to Hornets last month. The Hornets have the ninth, 24th and 45h picks in this months draft. If forward Josh McRoberts decides not to opt out of contract the Hornets will have all five starters from last season under contract -- and still have at least $13 million to spend under the NBA salary cap. If McRoberts opts out the team could have closer to $17 million free under the cap. "This year we have a lot of flexibility and Ive been speaking to that over the last three or four years -- flexibility is very important and we are going to use every resource to try to better the team," Jordan said. Charlotte finished last season 43-39 and earned the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. However, Jefferson injured his foot in the first game of the NBA playoffs and Charlotte was swept by the Miami Heat. Still, it was a big step in the right direction for a franchise that went 28-120 over the two previous seasons, by far the worst record in the NBA during that span. Jordan said he was "very proud" of what his team accomplished under first-year coach Steve Clifford. "The guys came out and took the initiative from coach and he was able to bond (them) and put together a good effort from the team," Jordan said. Jordan said Jefferson, who signed a three-year, $41 million contract last July 4 -- the largest ever given out by the franchise -- was better than advertised. But he said what was even more surprising is how quickly his new teammates adjusted to playing with a dominant low post presence. "Everybody surrounded him and we got better," Jordan said. "McRoberts was a huge part of that. So I think we got better as the year went along." Jordan said Jefferson, who was the only player in the Eastern Conference to average 20 points and 10 rebounds per game last season, deserved to be an All-Star. Jordan wouldnt say specifically what position the team might look to upgrade this off-season, instead saying he wants to find players who truly want to play in Charlotte. Another key, he said, is developing a core of young players including Kemba Walker, Jeffery Taylor, Michael-Kidd-Gilchrist and Cody Zeller. "We have a bunch of young talent that we still are trying to nourish into some better basketball players," Jordan said. "So summer is when we have to make our big leap." Stan Smith Solde Pas Cher . Those who impressed in each of the three events were asked to attend the main CFL Combine which begins Friday in Toronto. Basket Stan Smith Pas Cher . The visitors missed a host of good chances to win the game, and were left to rue substitute Ivo Ilicevics strike against the crossbar in the 86th minute, when he only had the goalkeeper to beat. http://www.stansmithfrance.fr/.85 million contract with the two-time Gold Glove outfielder. Parra earned his second Gold Glove last season when he set a club record with 17 outfield assists. Stan Smith Pas Cher France .? It was his second straight start for the Jets; he suffered a 1-0 loss against Minnesota Monday. So this season Hutchinson has now won games in the ECHL, AHL and NHL. He was perfect three- for-three in the shootout to nail down the win. Vente Stan Smith France . The 23-year-old Neustaedter will move at the end of the season when his contract with Moenchengladbach expires. He signed a four-year deal with Schalke.NASHVILLE -- Nashville Predators forward Mike Fisher has a ruptured Achilles tendon that likely will cause him to miss at least the start of the upcoming season. In a statement released by the team Monday, Predators general manager David Poile said Fisher underwent surgery Thursday after rupturing the tendon during a training session. "We expect Mike to make a full recovery in four to six months, and look forward to his return to the ice," Poile said. The Predators open the season Oct. 9 against Ottawa. Fisher, 34, served as Nashvilles alternate captain last season and had 20 goals and 29 assists in 75 games. He has 226 goals and 255 assists in 887 career regular-season games. Fisher tweeted, "Setbacks are opportunities for growth," on Monday and included a picture of his bandaged lower leg in a walking boot. The injury seriously hinders Nashvilles plans to boost its offence under new coach Peter Laviolette. After missing the playoffs for a second straight season, Poilee fired coach Barry Trotz and replaced him with Laviolette, emphasizing the need to add more scoring punch to a franchise that traditionally has prided itself on defence.dddddddddddd The Predators have spent much of the off-season attempting to boost that offence. They acquired forward James Neal from the Pittsburgh Penguins and signed free-agent centre Olli Jokinen to a one-year, $2.5 million contract. But the Predators would suffer a major blow if they have to spend much of the season without Fisher, one of the teams top offensive threats since coming to Nashville in a 2011 trade with the Ottawa Senators. Mondays news continues the Predators recent run of bad luck with injuries to key players. Star goaltender Pekka Rinne played just 24 games last season because of an E. coli infection in his surgically repaired left hip. Rinnes injury may have cost the Predators a playoff berth, as they finished the season three points out of eighth place in the Western Conference. ' ' '