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

Lance Young, a senior director of the sports marketing and management company Octagon, said 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 remaining 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.

"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."

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.

Last season, Paul led the NBA with averages of 11.6 assists and 2.7 steals. He was second in MVP voting to the Lakers' Kobe Bryant.

Paul also was the Hornets' second-leading scorer, averaging 21.1 points per game in helping the Hornets reach a franchise-record 56 regular season victories.

This past season, the New Orleans won the Southwest Division for the franchise's first division title, then defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs before falling to the San Antonio Spurs in the second round.

Meanwhile, ticket sales surged and sellouts became the norm during the final months of the season, strengthening the franchise's foothold in a city that seemed in danger of losing its professional teams after Hurricane Katrina.

Wizards

After signing Antawn Jamison to a four-year, $50 million deal late Monday, Washington owner Abe Pollin, 84, has his sights set on free agent Gilbert Arenas. The Wizards can sign the three-time All-Star point guard to a maximum deal worth roughly $125 million over six years, but Arenas has also said he doesn't want to hamstring the team's ability to sign other players. Arenas had said he would not return unless the team also kept Jamison.

Spurs

San Antonio guard Brent Barry opted out of his contract and became a free agent. Barry was part of a February trade with Seattle that sent him, center Francisco Elson and a 2009 first-round draft pick to the SuperSonics in exchange for forward Kurt Thomas.

Elsewhere

The league hired Army Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Johnson as senior vice president of referee operations, a newly created position to help strengthen the league's officiating programs after 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, while Jackson will continue to handle all other domestic and international basketball matters.