Newsmakers

Decided Hornets leading scorer David West says he will test free agency. West, a two-time All-Star who was drafted by New Orleans in 2003, started 70 games last season, averaging 18.9 points to go with 7.6 rebounds before tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament during a game on March 24. West had surgery April 12 and his rehabilitation is expected to take six to eight months. New Orleans general manager Dell Demps said he would still try to re-sign West in the offseason.

Offered The Charlotte Bobcats have made a one-year, $1 million qualifying offer to Dante Cunningham that makes the reserve forward a restricted free agent. The move comes less than two months after Cunningham was charged with possession of marijuana following a traffic stop in suburban Philadelphia. Cunningham moved from power forward to small forward and he averaged 9 points and 4 rebounds in 22 games with Charlotte after being acquired in a trade.

Re-signed A person familiar with the deal says the Vancouver Canucks have re-signed defenseman Kevin Bieksa to a five-year, $23 million contract extension, four days before he could have been an unrestricted free agent. Bieksa, who turned 30 on June 16, had six goals, 16 assists and was tied for second in the NHL with a plus-32 rating in 66 regular season games. He had five goals and five assists in 25 playoff games, including the Western Conference- clinching goal in double overtime against the San Jose Sharks.

Traded The Chicago Blackhawks have sent wing Tomas Kopecky to Florida in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick. The team said it will receive a 2012 pick, conditional to Nashville. If that pick is not available, Chicago gets Florida’s seventh-round pick in 2013. Kopecky had 25 goals and 38 assists in two years with Chicago. Injured Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker will be out for about six weeks due to a torn meniscus in her right knee. Parker, limited to 10 games last year because of a shoulder injury, had an MRI after she was hurt during a road loss to the New York Liberty on Sunday. Parker was averaging 17.7 points and 9.9 rebounds in seven games this season.