Charlotte Hornets Blog – Page 47 – NBA Blog

Sale of New Orleans Hornets to Tom Benson is now official

The purchase of the New Orleans Hornets by Tom Benson was completed today after having been approved by the National Basketball Association’s Board of Governors. Tom Benson is now officially the new owner of the New Orleans Hornets.

According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, “On April 13, Benson, who also owns the Saints, signed an agreement to purchase the Hornets from the NBA for $338 million. In the intervening months, the legislature debated, and eventually included, capital improvement funding for the arena, which will eliminate state subsidies of potentially $7 million to $8 million annually to assist the Hornets financially, money the team received under terms of the existing lease in the event certain financial levels were not achieved.”

In conjunction with the finalization of the ownership transaction, the Hornets’ lease extension with the State has been approved by Governor Bobby Jindal and the Louisiana legislature. The extension will keep the Hornets in New Orleans long term, as well as provide funding for upgrades to the New Orleans Arena. The agreement also included the elimination of all exit options, attendance benchmarks, and financial inducements.

The announcement of the finalization of the sale comes on the heels of the Hornets receiving the #1 pick, as well as the #10 pick, in the 2012 NBA Draft on June 28. In April, it was announced that New Orleans will be the host city for the 2014 NBA All-Star Game.

“I’m thrilled to have become the owner of the Hornets,” Benson said. “There is a lot of excitement in the region about the franchise, especially after winning the #1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft. We have been successful with the Saints and I know we can translate that success to our NBA team as well. We have the best, most dedicated fans in the world and will need them along the way as we work as an organization to make them proud. Championship performance is tied to fan support and the passion of the New Orleans sports fan is second to none. We look forward to joining up with all of our valued current fans and also introducing this great team game to many more residents of our city and region.”

Jerry Sloan withdraws from Charlotte Bobcats coaching search

Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan pulled out of the mix for the Charlotte Bobcats head-coaching job Thursday, making it a two-man race between Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw and Los Angeles Lakers assistant Quin Snyder.

Both Shaw and Snyder had second interviews this week, to involve Bobcats owner Michael Jordan in the process. Jordan was involved with Sloan’s initial interview in Salt Lake City, but was not part of the discussion when Bobcats president of basketball operations Rod Higgins and general manager Rich Cho first interviewed Shaw and Snyder.

There were no indications early Thursday night that Bobcats management had yet made a decision between Shaw and Snyder.

— Reported by Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer

Bobcats narrow coaching search down to three

The Charlotte Bobcats are inching closer to naming a new head coach after trimming their coaching search three – Jerry Sloan, Brian Shaw and Quin Snyder, said a person familiar with the situation.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team has not made its list of candidates public.

Bobcats owner Michael Jordan will meet with Shaw, an assistant with the Indiana Pacers, and Snyder, an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers, at some point this week. Sloan has already met with Jordan.

The previous candidates, other than Sloan, had interviewed with president of basketball operations Rod Higgins and general manager Rich Cho.

Eliminated from consideration were Orlando assistant coach Patrick Ewing, Charlotte assistant Stephen Silas, ex-Portland coach Nate McMillan, Golden State assistant Michael Malone, Cleveland assistant Nate Tibbetts, Memphis assistant Dave Joerger and St. John’s University assistant Mike Dunlap.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Patrick Ewing no longer in running for Bobcats coaching job

As it turns out, the “Space Jam” reunion won’t be happening with the Charlotte Bobcats.

After an interview with Charlotte management, owner Michael Jordan personally reached out to Patrick Ewing to tell him he’s been eliminated as a candidate to coach the Bobcats, a league source told Yahoo! Sports.

Charlotte is waiting to see whether it will win the NBA draft lottery on Wednesday night and get the chance to draft Kentucky’s Anthony Davis before it begins a second round of interviews for the opening, sources said.

— Reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports

Charlotte Bobcats coaching search continues

The Charlotte Bobcats are in the process of setting up an interview with Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw, perhaps as soon as next week. They also plan to meet with Los Angeles Lakers assistant Quin Snyder in Chicago before the NBA pre-draft camp the first week in June, sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Chris Broussard.

The Bobcats have reportedly already interviewed Jerry Sloan, Patrick Ewing, Nate McMillan, Dave Joerger, Mike Malone, Nate Tibbetts, Mike Dunlap and Stephen Silas — son of departed coach Paul Silas.

The Bobcats decided not to renew Paul Silas’ contract after the team finished 7-59 this season for the worst winning percentage in league history (.106).

— Reported by ESPN.com, with information from the Associated Press

Charlotte Bobcats interview Jerry Sloan

Former Jazz coach Jerry Sloan interviewed in Utah for the Charlotte Bobcats coaching position on Friday, meeting with Michael Jordan and other front office staff members.

Asked what made him want to coach the seven-win Bobcats, Sloan dryly replied: “Work.”

He went on to say, “They’ve got a young team, and it will be interesting to see what happens.”

Sloan said he hadn’t been offered the job. “They might come back, they might not,” he said.

— Reported by Brad Rock of the Deseret News

Charlotte Bobcats to interview Jerry Sloan for coaching job

A person familiar with the situation says the Charlotte Bobcats will interview Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan on Friday for their vacant head coaching position.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t made its list of candidates public.

The 70-year-old Sloan spent 23 seasons with the Utah Jazz before resigning in February 2011. He hasn’t coached since.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Charlotte Bobcats to interview Nate McMillan

Probably the most prominent name attached to the Charlotte Bobcats’ coaching search – former N.C. State star Nate McMillan – will be in Charlotte tonight and Tuesday to interview with Bobcats management, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to the Observer.

The Bobcats were also set to interview assistant coach Stephen Silas Monday. Silas served as lead assistant to his father, Paul, whose contract was not renewed last month.

McMillan was fired in March as coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, following a 42-point road loss to the New York Knicks. He was 266-269 as coach in Portland and preceded that with a 212-183 record as coach of the then-Seattle Supersonics.

Despite the end, McMillan had strong seasons in Portland, winning 54 games in the 2008-09 season and 50 in the 2009-10 season. He told the Observer last month that he had interest in the Bobcats situation.

— Reported by Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer (Blog)

Bobcats to interview Mike Malone for head coaching job

Golden State Warriors assistant Mike Malone is scheduled to interview for the Charlotte Bobcats head-coaching vacancy on Tuesday, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Malone will meet with Bobcats president of basketball operations Rod Higgins and general manager Rich Cho.

Malone is considered one of the NBA’s elite head-coaching candidates. He was the runner-up for the Warriors’ job that went to Mark Jackson last year.

— Reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports

Bobcats may want Jerry Sloan to be next coach

We’re hearing that the Bobcats may take a look at Jerry Sloan to replace Paul Silas.

The former Utah Jazz coach would be a tremendous, out-of-the-box choice and the first indication that Jordan is committed to turning his seven-win team around.

The obvious connection between Jordan and Sloan is that they both have their numbers hanging from the rafters in Chicago’s United Center. Beyond that, Jordan has great admiration for the coach he twice defeated in the Finals, at the end of his second three-peat.

Sloan might be tempted to return to the sidelines, if the situation and money are right. But what about taking over a team low on talent and embarking on a long rebuilding campaign, while working for an owner who doesn’t have deep pockets, doesn’t like to spend money on players and has been looking to sell half the team for close to a year?

— Reported by Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News