Scott signs 3-year contract extension with Hornets

BETHANY, Okla. (AP) _ After a season in which the New Orleans Hornets' win total jumped by 20, coach Byron Scott was rewarded Tuesday with a three-year contract extension that will keep him with the

Tuesday, June 27th 2006, 9:37 pm

By: News On 6

BETHANY, Okla. (AP) _ After a season in which the New Orleans Hornets' win total jumped by 20, coach Byron Scott was rewarded Tuesday with a three-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2008-09 season.

Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but in 2004, Scott signed a three-year, $10 million contract with the Hornets, with a team option for a fourth year. Scott said earlier this week that the new deal included bonuses for wins, reaching the playoffs and other milestones.

Owner George Shinn and other team officials had said since the end of the season in April that the Hornets wanted to extend Scott's contract.

``It wasn't anything that I was worried about,'' Scott said Tuesday, one day before the NBA draft. ``I knew it was just a matter of time. We had other pressing issues that we had to deal with and we still have to deal with, but I'm very excited and very happy about this being done at this particular time.''

Scott's first NBA head-coaching job was with the New Jersey Nets, a team he guided to the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003. He was fired after a 22-20 start during the 2003-04 season and signed with the Hornets before the following season.

The Hornets went 18-64 during his first season. Despite distractions that included the franchise's temporary relocation to Oklahoma City following Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans improved to 38-44 this season and remained in playoff contention until the season's final week. Scott finished fifth in the NBA's coach of the year voting.

``We think it's a great day for the organization, for us to be able to look forward to continuing the improvement and continuing the accomplishments we've been able to reach this past year,'' Hornets general manager Jeff Bower said. ``It is a huge, huge asset for the franchise to have someone in (that) position like Byron, that has the respect of the players, that has the ability to lead them and show them the way and the ability to teach them as our young team continues to mature.''

Bower, who took over as general manager when Allan Bristow resigned in October, said Tuesday he expects that he'll also sign a contract extension soon, although he didn't offer a specific timetable. Bower has worked with the Hornets in various capacities since 1995.

Bower also said contract extensions for Scott's assistants _ Darrell Walker, Jim Cleamons, Kenny Gattison and David Miller _ also should be finished soon. Scott said there is no stipulation that that happen in his contract, but he's glad the coaching staff will have continuity for next season.

``These are guys that I know very well and I'm very comfortable with these guys,'' Scott said. ``I'm understand how hard they work and what they mean to me. They make my job easier and our players respect them as well.''