By By Richard Dark/EMG staff writer
May 8, 2004
NEW ORLEANS The other shoe dropped on Hattiesburg native Tim Floyd's NBA coaching career on Friday.
And as a result, the New Orleans Hornets are quickly cutting their losses and moving on in the wake of their disappointing 2003-04 season and abbreviated postseason run.
The Hornets fired Floyd just three days after a sub-par, 41-41 regular season record and an Eastern Conference Game 7, first-round elimination at the hands of the Miami Heat.
The red-eyed Shinn, who was joined at the podium by Hornets VP of Basketball Operations/General Manager Bob Bass, called it one of the toughest decisions he's ever had to make.
Bass, who announced his retirement effective June 30, on Wednesday, was more succinct, stating the reason for the termination was simply, "because we didn't advance."
Many surrounding the organization felt that Floyd, whose 11-month tenure was wracked with turmoil, would be given another season based on the myriad of aggravating circumstances.
The Hornets lost nearly 200 player-games due to injury, including losing their most athletic player, Courtney Alexander for the duration of the year and All-Star Jamal Mashburn for 63 games.
Floyd, who has compiled the second-worst all-time coaching record at 93-237, was absent from the proceedings and did not return phone calls for comment Friday.
Currently, no other personnel decisions have been made and it is unclear whether or not a new GM will be hired before Floyd's successor is named. But one thing's certain the search has already begun and money, according to Shinn, will not be an object.
Both will be daunting tasks with the Hornets slated to make their debut into the tougher Western Conference in the fall.
New Orleans is also faced with the burden of trying to improve their attendance, which plummeted this year to 28th of 29 teams.
Whoever takes over the reins of this club will have to do something Floyd reportedly was unable to do, gain the respect and following of its players. Chemistry issues were prevalent and easy to spot as the .500 campaign wore on, one that saw the talent-laden and veteran club drop 22 games to teams with losing records.
Many of the team leaders were uncertain about Floyd, who came in with no NBA playing experience and a dismal stint coaching the post-Jordan era Chicago Bulls.
Floyd is scheduled to collect some $3.5 million that remains on a three-year deal. There are several coaching candidates that have been mentioned, including Byron Scott, Paul Westphal, Mike Fratello and Avery Johnson.