Meeting with the media for the first time since the Hornets were eliminated by Denver in the play-offs, New Orleans head coach Byron Scott talked about his futuere and pre-draft work-outs of college players.
The first 6 players to work out for the Hornets were North Carolina forward Tyler Hansbrough, Arizona State forward Jeff Pendergraph, Notre Dame forward Luke Harangody, Utah center Luke Nevill, Georgia Tech forward Gani Lawal and UCLA center/forward Alfred Aboya. Scott says this is the first step in getting ready for the 2009-10 NBA Season.
The NBA Draft will be held on June 25th. The Hornets currently hold the 21st pick in the first round.
Discussing his future in New Orleans heading into his 6th season as head coach of the Hornets, going into the last year of his contract, Scott says he is comfortable with his position, even without receiving an immediate vote of confidence from ownership following the end of the season.
"My job security wasn't in doubt. I had a year left on the contract, so no it wasn't at all, you know to be honest with you. Like I said this is a business and I understand it. I been in this business for a long time, so it didn't affect me one way or another," Scott said. "Like I said I have a job to do and I'm going to do it to the best of my ability. If I was to happen to lose that job I'm pretty sure I could get another one."
Listen to Scott:
As for what it will take to improve on last season's 49 – 33 record and a first round exit from the play-offs, the coach said depth. "I think our starters (Chris Paul, Rasual Butler, David West, Peja Stojakovic and Tyson Chandler) are fine. I think we need to add a couple more guys off the bench besides Pose (James Posey) that could really come in and be effective in the basketball ball game for us. It's no secret guys that our bench wasn't one of the best benches in the league and we gotta upgrade that part of our team and if we do that then obviously we'll have a much better season."
Also announced by the Hornets was the departure of assistant coach Kenny Gattison.
Scott says the separation with Gattison was a mutual decision. Gattison has been on the New Orleans coaching staff since the 2003-04 season. Scott said he plans to talk to former Hornet P.J. Brown about the possibility of replacing Gattison on the Hornets coaching staff.
For the latest on the Hornets, Saints and LSU tune into Bobby Hebert and Deke Bellavia on SportsTalk weekdays from 4pm – 8pm on WWL-AM-FM-and-dot.com.
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