NEW ORLEANS – Tim Floyd was hired Monday as coach of the Hornets after one of the worst three-year stretches in NBA history with the Chicago Bulls.
Floyd, who lives in the city and once coached the University of New Orleans, reached agreement with the Hornets earlier in the day. Terms of the contract were not announced.
Team vice president Bob Bass began a news conference announcing the hiring with statement downplaying Floyd’s 49-190 record in Chicago, calling the situation with the Bulls “very difficult.”
Floyd joined Chicago after the departure of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. He resigned in December 2001.
Floyd has high expectations for the Hornets.
“I believe we can contend for the Eastern Division championship next year,” he said.
Last month, the team decided not to renew the contract of Paul Silas, the franchise’s career victory leader with a 208-155 record in three seasons. Silas was hired by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Floyd was a popular coach locally and twice led the University of New Orleans to the NCAA tournament. He went on to a successful stint at Iowa State before his disastrous NBA debut with the Bulls.
When the Hornets picked Floyd as one of three top candidates to succeed Silas – along with former NBA coaches Brian Hill and Mike Fratello – Bass said he did not believe Floyd’s record in Chicago was indicative of his ability.
Rockets talking
to Van Gundy
HOUSTON – Jeff Van Gundy was in contract negotiations Monday with the Houston Rockets to become their coach two seasons after abruptly leaving the New York Knicks.
Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said Van Gundy told him he wants the job Rudy Tomjanovich left last month.
“I was jumping up and down,” Dawson said, describing his reaction after getting the telephone call. “My wife thought I was crazy. You’re looking at a happy guy.”
Contract talks were expected to be complete within the next few days, he said.
Dawson wouldn’t disclose possible terms but said the Rockets have been in touch with the Knicks, who have Van Gundy under contract through July 31. The Rockets have agreed to give New York compensation, the general manager said without elaborating.
Van Gundy, who has been working as a game analyst for TNT, also had been considering coaching the Washington Wizards.
Bobcats to prowl in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte’s NBA expansion team will be called the “Bobcats,” a nod to the owner who spent $300 million for the franchise, The Associated Press has learned.
Bob Johnson selected Bobcats over “Flight” and “Dragons,” a source familiar with the process told the AP on Monday on condition of anonymity.
The dominant color in uniforms and logos will be orange and official team apparel will be in stores Wednesday afternoon, the source said.
An official announcement is planned for Wednesday, when city leaders plan to join Johnson and NBA commissioner David Stern in a downtown street festival to unveil the name and logos.
In picking Bobcats, Johnson gets to see his own name used and continues the feline theme established by Charlotte’s other pro team.
, the NFL’s Panthers.
Bobcats was one of three finalists for the team name, whittled down from a list of nearly 1,200 suggestions the team received from the community. Johnson’s group used several focus groups and spent nearly $100,000 researching the names and their trademark status and designing possible logos.
Team officials cut the list about 10 names, then matched them with potential colors, graphic designs and mascots.
Chicago’s NVU Productions was hired to help develop the logos.
Reaction was lukewarm – at best – when the finalists were announced last month. But the same thing happened in 1987 when owner George Shinn was naming his Charlotte NBA team.
Originally “Spirit” was selected, but Shinn changed it to Hornets, a name that traced its roots to the Revolutionary War.
That name – and its lovable purple and teal mascot “Hugo the Hornet” – eventually caught on and then moved on with the franchise to New Orleans.
AP-ES-06-09-03 1936EDT
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