May 28, 2008 - 6:51 PM
0 shoutsNEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- The New Orleans Hornets and head coach Byron Scott agreed in principle to a new contract extension Wednesday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"I am very happy to sign an extension to stay here in New Orleans with the Hornets," Scott said. "We, as a team, are a piece of the community of New Orleans. We are really growing into something special and there is no other place I would rather be. I have great assistant coaches, wonderful players, an intelligent general manager and an owner willing to do what it takes to win. I am looking forward to next season."
The reigning NBA Coach of the Year, Scott had an option year remaining on the three-year contract he signed in June 2006. He could have opted out of the contract, although he would have had to pay $2 million.
Unlikely as that scenario was, the new deal removes any speculation surrounding Scott, who guided the Hornets to a franchise-record 56 wins and the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs this season.
"We are a very fortunate organization to have coach Scott leading our team and he has done an outstanding job with us," Hornets owner George Shinn said. "Obviously, I wanted to get this contract done as soon as we could and we were able to accomplish that. I told coach Scott when he became our head coach four years ago that I want him to retire as a Hornet and this is another step in that direction."
Under Scott's watch, the Hornets captured their first Southwest Division title this past season. New Orleans' 56-26 record was the second-best mark in the highly competitive Western Conference and an 18-game improvement over last season.
After defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the first round, the Hornets ultimately were ousted by the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in seven games.
Scott, 47, has compiled a 151-177 record since taking the Hornets job prior to the 2004-05 season.
"We are all very happy that we were able to sign Byron to an extension, it was a fair deal on all sides," New Orleans general manager Jeff Bower said. "Byron has done an excellent job as coach growing our players and we feel that we have the best coach for our players and team."
Just three years removed from a dismal 18-64 campaign, the Hornets have emerged as one of the NBA's most exciting teams thanks to the brilliant play of point guard Chris Paul, the runner-up for this season's NBA Award.
Paul and fellow All-Star David West headlined a Hornets squad which ranked in the top 10 in both team scoring and team defense this past season - achievement that several players have attributed to Scott.
Scott joined the Hornets after 3 1/2 seasons with the New Jersey Nets, a stretch in which he compiled a 149-139 record and took the Nets to two consecutive appearances in the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.
