http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/108849576510550.xml Hornets to bring Reed into fold today Hall of Famer to assist GM Bristow, Bower Tuesday, June 29, 2004 By John Reid Staff writer The restructuring of the Hornets' front office will be complete today when Hall of Famer Willis Reed is announced as vice president of basketball operations, a source with the team said Monday. The Hornets scheduled a press conference for today to introduce Reed, who was chosen as one of the league's 50 Greatest Players in 1996. Reed, who was born in Hico and grew up in Bernice, was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1982 after helping the New York Knicks win NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. The restructuring of the team's front office began after executive vice president of basketball operations Bob Bass announced his retirement last month. Bass' last day is Wednesday. Reed, 62, will assist General Manager Allan Bristow and Jeff Bower, director of player personnel, in all basketball operations decisions. But Bristow will have final say on all trades, personnel decisions and draft selections. Bristow was promoted from assistant general manager June 17. Bower was promoted June 22 after spending last season as an assistant coach on former Hornets coach Tim Floyd's staff. Hall of Famer Bob Lanier and Clyde Drexler, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in September, also were considered for the vice president of basketball operations job. Reed spent this season as special adviser for the Knicks. Before taking that job last July, Reed had spent 14 years as a front office executive with the New Jersey Nets. Reed was senior vice president when current Hornets coach Byron Scott was the Nets coach. Reed is best remembered for limping through the tunnel and emerging on the Madison Square Garden court to play with a knee injury in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. Reed played 27 minutes to give the Knicks the emotional lift they needed to win their first championship. He was the first player in NBA history to be selected as the MVP of the regular season, MVP of the All-Star Game and MVP of the Finals in the same season (1970). He was drafted by the Knicks and was the NBA's Rookie of the Year after averaging 19.5 points and 14.7 rebounds in 1965. Reed played 10 seasons and led the Knicks in scoring five seasons and rebounding for six. He was a seven-time All-Star. His number -- 19 -- is retired by the Knicks. Reed also was the head coach of the Knicks from 1977-79 and of the Nets from 1987-89, compiling an 82-124 record. He also was the head coach at Creighton University from 1981-85. Reed was an All-American at Grambling State from 1960 to 1964. He led the Tigers to three NAIA tournaments, including the 1961 championship as a freshman. . . . . . . . John Reid can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3405. --

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