By Fitzgerald Cecilio

New Orleans

The New Orleans Hornets have signed the new cornerstones of the franchise -- first overall pick Anthony Davis and 10th pick Austin Rivers -- to three-year guaranteed contract.

Under the collective bargaining agreement for first-round picks, Davis is set to earn $5.144 million in the first year of his three-year guaranteed deal worth $16,127,100.

Davis, a former Kentucky standout, will earn $5,375,760 in the second year while the third year is worth $5,607,240.

Rivers, as the 10th overall choice, is ensured by the CBA to earn $1.865 million in the first year of his three-year contract and his second- and third-year salaries are slated to be $1,949,200 and $2,033,200.

Davis, 19, is a member of the U.S. Olympic basketball team that will defend the gold medal in the London Games.

With Davis and Rivers onboard, the Hornets are looking to turn around a franchise that recorded a league-worst 21-45 tally last season.

In his only collegiate season, the 6-10 Davis won six of the seven major national player of the year awards as he led the nation in blocks with 4.65 per game.

Davis led Kentucky in scoring with 14.2 points per game, rebounding with 10.4 a game and field goal percentage (.623) while breaking the NCAA freshman record for blocks in a season with 186.

He finished the season with 20 double-doubles and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year, First Team All-SEC, SEC All-Freshman Team and SEC All-Defensive Team.

Like Davis, the 6-4 Rivers jumped to the NBA after a year of collegiate ball with Duke University.

He became the third freshman in school history to lead the Blue Devils in scoring with 15.5 points per game and ranked in the top five in seven different freshman categories.

The 19-year-old posted a career-high 29 points and hit a game-winning three-pointer to beat then-No. 5 North Carolina on February 8, 2012.

 

Hornets Sign Draft Picks Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers