CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cody Zeller said hes always considered himself a simple kid from Indiana.Well, now hes a simple rich kid from Indiana.The 7-foot Zeller signed a four-year, $56 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets. The four-year deal was announced Tuesday and Zeller himself confirmed the overall value.You know, $56 million is crazy -- I would play this game for free, Zeller said during a press conference. ... This is way more money than I would spend in three lifetimes.Zeller has improved statistically every year since coming into the league as the fourth overall pick in 2013 NBA draft.General manager Rich Cho called Zeller a high character guy who plays both ends of the floor, and said he considers him a big part of the teams core group moving forward.We felt it was important to get him locked up to an extension rather than have him be a restricted free agent next summer, Cho said. With the cap next summer along with Codys value around the league as a young, versatile athletic big we felt he would have been a target for a number of teams.Zeller said he spent Monday stressing out about the contract negotiations simply because he wanted to know what his future held. The two sides ultimately reached a deal just before midnight .More than anything I like the insurance of knowing that I will be here long term, Zeller said.Zeller, who starred collegiately at Indiana, has appeared in 220 games with 109 starts during his four-year career with Charlotte. He has averaged 7.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 21.5 minutes per game.Last season he started 60 games and posted career highs of 8.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 24.3 minutes per game as the Hornets finished tied for the third-best record (48-34) in the Eastern Conference.Zeller said Hornets coach Steve Clifford and the organization has shown the utmost confidence in him ever since they drafted him, which is one of the reasons he wanted to stay in Charlotte. He started his career with the Hornets as a power forward, but has since moved almost exclusively to center.Hes currently splitting time in the starting lineup with Roy Hibbert.This is the third consecutive season the Hornets have taken at least one player off the market before theyve completed their rookie contract and were allowed to become restricted free agents.The others were Kemba Walker in 2014 and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Jeremy Lamb in 2015.We wanted to make sure we had some continuity with our core moving forward, Cho said. And the other piece is any valuable player who goes into restricted free agency, he has a chance to get a big offer sheet. If you give an extension you more or less control the situation a lot better than have to match an offer sheet. It only takes one team, and there are some teams desperate to get restricted free agents. Mets Jerseys 2020 . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Stitched Mets Jerseys . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. https://www.cheapmetsjerseys.us/ . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. New York Mets Shirts . Jane Virtanen scored two, and Alex Roach and Elliott Peterson rounded out the offence for the Hitmen (40-15-6). Brady Brassart chipped in with three assists. Colton McCarthy scored twice, Brayden Point had a goal and two assists, and Jack Rodewald also scored for the Warriors (15-35-9), who were 2 for 5 on the power play. New York Mets Pro Shop . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before.The ATP World Tour Finals produced exhilarating tennis and memorable moments. Andy Murray walked away with the title, but all the players contributed.Here, we look back on the 10 best points of the tournament… Lessons from the O2 We pick out the key conclusions from an action-packed week 10. Milos Raonic (v Novak Djokovic)Djokovic somehow returned a serve, a forehand and two smashes in this one brilliant exhibition of defensive tennis, but he eventually succumbed when Raonic beat him with a third smash.9. Kei Nishikori (v Andy Murray)Nishikori looked poised to save a set point when he lined up a routine smash, but he directed it straight at Murray, who managed to turn his return into a lob. Nishikori had to back-pedal to reach it, and this time unleashed an un-returnable smash. Kei Nishikori played some epic points against Andy Murray 8. Novak Djokovic (v Milos Raonic)Djokovic and Raonic exchanged 19 powerful strokes from the baseline in a key point of their second-set tie break and it seemed only an error would decide matters. Djokovic then charged to the net and looked to have been beaten by a low Raonic passing shot, but the Serb scooped out a deft half-volley at his feet that his opponent was unable to return.7. Gael Monfils (v Dominic Thiem)Monfils had it all to do when he was dragged to the net by a Thiem forehand that clipped the cord, and his situation worsened when the Austrian then sent him scampering back his baseline with a lob. However, Monfils caught up with the ball and hit a forehand winner on the swivel. Sky Sports Black Friday sale Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price! 6. Kei Nishikori (v Andy Murray)Nishikori looked a beaten man when Murray was powering down huge forehands, but the Japanese managed to stay in the point and then decisively turned defence into attack with a forehand winner.dddddddddddd5. Novak Djokovic (v Milos Raonic)Djokovic and Raonic were neck and neck at 5-5 in their second-set tie break when Raonic charged to the net. He managed to return Djokovics first attempt at a passing shot, but the Serb then prevailed with an inch-perfect lob that just evaded a fully stretched Raonic and landed safely in. Novak Djokovic shared some memorable points with Milos Raonic 4. Andy Murray (v Kei Nishikori)Murray appeared to be on the verge of losing the opening set when he under-hit an attempted lob and Nishikori lined up what looked guaranteed to be a volleyed winner. Nishikori made perfect contact and found what should have been a winning angle, but Murray anticipated the direction to a tee and turned a defensive backhand into a winner.3. Gael Monfils (v Milos Raonic)Monfils is arguably the most entertaining player on tour and proved why with a no-look backhand drop shot that a scrambling Raonic could only return into the net. Murray was pushed to the limit by Nishikori 2. David Goffin (v Novak Djokovic)Djokovic was dragging a beleaguered Goffin all over the court and it looked like he had won the point when he landed what looked like a perfect drop shot at the net. However, Goffin hit the afterburners and not only reached the ball, but also managed to lob Djokovic and land it bang on the line.1. Andy Murray (v Milos Raonic)Murray looked like he would be caught out when he rushed the net 10 shots into a rally and found a Raonic backhand heading straight for his feet, but the world No 1 showed deft footwork and an even defter touch to half-volley the ball narrowly over the net and just out of reach of his opponent.Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price. Hurry, offer ends December 4. Also See: World Tour Finals: The verdict Murray is Britain’s greatest Murray wins World Tour Finals Murray: I still need to improve ' ' '