[TimesPicayune] Bower, Gattison retained
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Bower, Gattison retained
Hornets, Newman unable to reach deal
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
By John Reid
Staff writer
The Hornets announced Tuesday that two assistants from fired
coach Tim Floyd's staff would be retained -- Jeff Bower, who
was promoted to director of player personnel, and Kenny
Gattison, who became the first addition to new coach Byron
Scott's staff.
Last season, Gattison and Bower were hired within the same
week as Hornets assistant coaches. A year later, they are the
only holdovers from Floyd's staff.
As the team's director of player personnel, Bower will assist
Hornets general manager Allan Bristow on personnel decisions,
college scouting and evaluation of draft prospects. Gattison
will remain an assistant coach.
Scott begins his first day of work today in preparation for
Thursday's NBA draft.
"I've known (Gattison) since we played together in Vancouver
(1995-96), and I know that his coaching talents are well-suited
to help prepare this team to play at the level I'm expecting,"
Scott said in a statement Tuesday.
Scott was interested in hiring New Orleans native Donald Newman,
but a team source said Tuesday that a contract agreement could
not be reached. Scott must fill two remaining assistant positions.
A possible candidate is Larry Drew, who was an assistant on Scott's
staff in New Jersey.
"It was a very comfortable situation to know what to expect out of
him as far attitude toward the game," Gattison said of Scott. "When
you've been in the fire with somebody, you know what their mentality
is and how they are going to respond when they are pushed. I think
Byron is going to bring a new sense in terms of urgency.
"It's all about winning. It's a players' league. We all know that
and understand it. It will come down to mutual respect, and Byron
will get that the first day he walks through the door."
Bower has been with the Hornets for nine years and was the team's
general manager from 2001-03, after which he became an assistant
coach. He spent the 2000-01 season as assistant general manager.
In 1995, when he joined the Hornets, he was an advance scout before
being promoted to director of advance scouting before the 1997-98
season. Bower also was an assistant during the 1998-99 season after
the resignation of Coach Dave Cowens.
"I have a lot of pride to be able to work for the Hornets for nine
years in different jobs," Bower said. "I've learned an awful lot
from Bob Bass. . . . We're all moving forward with the same goals
and same approach, and I think that's a great thing to be a part of."
The Hornets have been undergoing changes since their first-round
playoff elimination by the Miami Heat last month. Bass, the executive
vice president of basketball operations/general manager, announced
his retirement, effective a week from today. Last week the Hornets
chose Bristow as general manager.
The restructuring of the Hornets' basketball operations staff will
include one more hire in the front office, and Hall-of-Famer Willis
Reed is the front-runner, according to team sources. The Hornets
want a trio to form a committee that will oversee personnel matters.
Bristow said the primary reason he wanted Bower included in the
decision-making is experience.
"He knows this team as good as anyone who has been associated with
the Hornets," Bristow said. "I think it was a natural fit, and I
have a tremendous amount of respect for him, and I think we will
work well together."
HORNETS WORK OUT NELSON: St. Joseph guard Jameer Nelson worked out
for the Hornets on Tuesday. Nelson, a 6-foot point guard, was the
consensus national Player of the Year as a senior after leading St.
Joseph to a 27-0 regular-season record. "You've got to be impressed
with his quickness," Bristow said.
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