http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/108460235530270.xml Shinn more involved in search for coach Bass's retirement necessitates a different approach this time Saturday, May 15, 2004 John Reid and Jimmy Smith par Staff writers Hornets majority owner George Shinn is taking a more active role in the search for a coach this time around, doing everything from gathering information on candidates to fielding calls from those interested in the job. When the Hornets went searching for a head coach last year, executive vice president of basketball operations and general manager Bob Bass did most of the work. Bass conducted all the first round of interviews before the franchise targeted Tim Floyd. Floyd held the job one season and was fired eight days ago. This time, the Hornets' search is being conducted differently. With Bass announcing his retirement, effective June 30, and with the team also seeking to hire a general manager, Shinn will be involved in the initial round of interviews that is expected to start Monday with former New Jersey Nets coach Byron Scott. "George is getting really involved in this (job search) process, and it's going to help a lot," Bass said. Earlier this week, Shinn made calls to Nets owner Lewis Katz to gather information on Scott, now considered one of the top candidates for the job. Shinn also laid out the qualifications he was looking for in a coach to Golden State Warriors point guard Avery Johnson, a native New Orleanian who has expressed interest in the job, said Johnson's agent, Tony Butt. Shinn wants an experienced coach who has had success in the NBA. Next season, the team is shifting to the highly competitive Western Conference. "This is my life," Shinn said. "It means everything to me. I want to win. I sacrificed everything I had in my life to get this team initially. I'll sacrifice everything to build it." Scott said during the ABC's NBA studio show before Thursday's telecast of Game 5 between the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs that he's interested in the Hornets' job. "They got some interesting pieces there," Scott said. "Baron Davis, I'm a big fan of; and the two Jamals (Jamaal) Magloire and (Jamal) Mashburn; and P.J. Brown, I think, has always been underrated. "So they have some interested pieces there. If the owner gives me a call, I'll be more than happy to go down there and talk with them." Besides helping in the coaching search, Bass also is getting the team prepared for the June 24 draft. He and assistant general manager Allan Bristow are lining up draft prospects for workouts starting at the Alario Center at the end of this month. He and Bristow also will be involved in the upcoming interviews. The Hornets also are considering former NBA head coaches Mike Fratello, Brian Hill and George Karl for the job. The team also is looking at two assistant coaches -- Donald Newman of the Nets and the Memphis Grizzlies' Lionel Hollins. Newman is a New Orleans native who prepped at Brother Martin. Former Lakers standout Michael Cooper and Hornets assistant Alvin Gentry also have been mentioned as candidates. . . . . . . . John Reid can be reached at [email protected] or at (504) 826-3405. Jimmy Smith can be reached at [email protected] or at (504) 826-3814. --

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