Chris Paul's agent plans to travel to New Orleans today with the intention of completing a contract extension that would keep the NBA All-Star and Team USA point guard with the Hornets for three to five more years.

Lance Young, a senior director of the sports marketing and management company Octagon, said Tuesday that he had spoken to Hornets general manager Jeff Bower by phone and that they were in general agreement on the terms of an extension for Paul, who has one season left on his current contract.

"We seem to be pretty much on the same page," Young said. "A little tweak here and there and we'll probably get it done in the next 48 hours."

Paul is seeking the maximum pay allowable under the league's collective bargaining agreement, or about 25 percent of the NBA salary cap with 10 percent raises going forward. Such a deal could pay Paul from $60 million to more than $80 million, depending on the length of the contract.

"It could be three, four, or five years. We haven't really gotten into any details yet," Young said. "Chris wants to stay with the Hornets. It just depends on how long he's going to be there."

Tuesday marked the first day NBA teams could begin negotiations with free agents or current players who are seeking extensions. Paul has from July 9 until Oct. 31 to sign an extension. Otherwise, the window for negotiations closes until next summer, when Paul would be a restricted free agent.

CLIPPERS LIKE BRAND AND MAGGETTE: The Los Angeles Clippers want to keep Elton Brand and Corey Maggette, each of whom has opted out of the final year of his contract.

As soon as the former Duke stars made their intentions known, team president Andy Roeser said the Clippers will be aggressive in trying to convince them to stay. He also said the team will be contacting other free agents.

Brand, the longtime star who appeared in just eight games this past season because of a knee injury, has said he intends to remain with the Clippers. He had $16.4 million left on the contract he signed in 2003.

Maggette, who was due $7 million, led Los Angeles in scoring last season with a 22.1 average. He has been with the Clippers since the 2000-01 season, longest of any current player.

NBA HIRES JOHNSON TO OVERSEE REFS: The NBA hired Army Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Johnson on Tuesday as senior vice president of referee operations, a newly created position to help strengthen the league's officiating programs following the Tim Donaghy scandal.

The move splits executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson's role into two positions, a plan commissioner David Stern announced last fall. Johnson will oversee all aspects of officiating, and Jackson will continue to handle all other domestic and international basketball matters.

Johnson recently retired after 32 years of service as a combat engineer. He was commanding general of the Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region division, from 2003-04, responsible for overseeing $18 billion of reconstruction in Iraq.

BOBCATS AND HARRINGTON PART WAYS: The Charlotte Bobcats have declined to pick up a team option on the deal of forward Othella Harrington, making him an unrestricted free agent.

BRIEFLY: The Philadelphia 76ers hired former general manager John Nash as a pro personnel scout Tuesday.

* Jose Calderon reached a "preliminary agreement" to remain with the Toronto Raptors for another season.

* San Antonio Spurs guard Brent Barry opted out of his contract and became a free agent.

* The Portland Trail Blazers reached an agreement to sign Spanish guard Rudy Fernandez.