http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1084354237141800.xml Shinn: Scott is near the top of list Hornets intrigued by ex-Nets coach Wednesday, May 12, 2004 By John Reid and Jimmy Smith Staff writers Hornets majority owner George Shinn said Tuesday that former New Jersey Nets coach Byron Scott is one of the top candidates the team is considering to fill its vacant head coaching position. But Shinn said no interview has been scheduled for this week. "I feel compelled to hire somebody that has the experience and credentials to move us to the next level, and obviously Byron is one of the top on our list," Shinn said. Scott led the Nets to two consecutive berths in the NBA Finals and had a 149-139 record in 3½ seasons before he was fired in January. After guiding the Nets to 26 victories in his first season, Scott led the team to a 52-30 record and Eastern Conference championship in 2001-02. They lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. In 2002-03, the Nets went 49-33 and won their second consecutive conference championship before losing to the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals. "If you look at credentials, to me, he's got all the credentials," Shinn said. "But I don't want to say something that might discourage somebody else. But his record speaks for itself." Scott is not the only candidate the Hornets are considering. The team is lining up possible interviews with a couple of other candidates, Shinn said, but he declined to name them. The public comments were Shinn's first about the coaching search since last Friday, when Tim Floyd was fired after one season for failing to advance the team beyond the first round of the playoffs. Shinn wants to hire a coach who has succeeded in the NBA and has experience at handling players' egos and personalities. Other potential candidates include former Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Fratello; Nets assistant coach Brian Hill, who was a finalist for the Hornets' job last season; former Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich; former Milwaukee Bucks coach George Karl; and Hornets assistant coach Alvin Gentry. Scott played 14 seasons in the NBA and won three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. But while he's under consideration for the Hornets' job, he could be more interested in the Lakers' job if Coach Phil Jackson does not return to the team. Contract talks between Jackson and the Lakers ended earlier this season. "I've heard different sides of that story," Shinn said. "Not from him, but from other people that have been in coaching. They didn't know if they would want him to inherit that job or not." At the start of this season, Nets star point guard Jason Kidd reportedly had problems with Scott's style. After a 47-point loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Kidd screamed at Scott during a postgame team meeting. Scott then was fired 19 games later, after the guiding the Nets to a 22-20 record; he was replaced by assistant Lawrence Frank. "We have a very good handle on it and we know exactly what happened," Shinn said. " We have called New Jersey. I know the owner, Lewis Katz, personally. I respect (team president) Rod (Thorn) and I talked to him about the situation, and he's explained it. It makes all the sense in the world, so I'm very confident, and it's not going to be a problem." Neither Scott nor his agent could be reached for comment. "There are a few other things I like about him that has nothing to do with basketball," Shinn said. "He's a good-looking guy and he's a sharp dresser, and to me that's makes him go up a little higher. "He's well-spoken and mild-mannered, and he doesn't lose it on the court. Plus when you add all his basketball background -- I think he has three rings when he played for the Lakers, and he's taken New Jersey in the East to two championships. So that's pretty darn good." NOTE: On Tuesday, Shinn celebrated his 63rd birthday by distributing free gifts at University Hospital to mothers who recently gave birth. . . . . . . . John Reid can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3405. --

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