New Orleans Hornets promote Randy Ayers to lead assistant coach
New Orleans Hornets Coach Monty Williams announced Monday during his basketball camp at the Alario Center that he will promote assistant coach Randy Ayers to fill the lead assistant position left by Mike Malone.
Ayers spent the past season as an assistant on Williams’ staff. He also served as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2003-04 season and has worked as an assistant for four teams.
“It’s an easy move for us because he’s been a head coach and a lead assistant,”
said Williams, who was coached by Ayers in Philadelphia in 2002-03 when Ayers served on Coach Larry Brown’s staff. “But losing Mike is a tough blow for us because he meant so much to our program, teaching every day and his ability to communicate. You don’t just try to replace guys like that quickly.”
Malone accepted a position with the Golden State Warriors to be new coach Mark Jackson’s lead assistant. He also was courted by Lakers Coach Mike Brown, whom he assisted in Cleveland for five seasons years before coming to New Orleans last year.
“Mike was tremendous for us,”
Williams said. “It’s exciting for him because he wants to be in a position where he can become a head coach one day. He’s moving up the ladder. I have my hands full right now trying to fill that spot.”
Williams did not set a timetable for filling the vacancy on his staff. He added that he doesn’t want this job to become a stepping stone for other positions, instead seeking someone that will buy into the program and bring a fresh perspective.
“To have someone else regurgitate all the same things we talk about wouldn’t be beneficial for our program,”
Williams said. “Bringing someone who understands what we do, but also has a different mix of his own will be important for us.
“Fortunately, I have to field a lot of calls and talk to different guys and study their backgrounds. I don’t want to bring someone in or ask them to come here so they can do the same things we do. Hopefully, they can bring something else to the table.”
Williams has a list of potential candidates and said he will use the allure of New Orleans to entice prospective assistant coaches to join his staff.
“This is a unique situation in this city,”
Williams said. “When people come here and experience the love and support we get from this fan base, they’ll want to be here for a long time. Our coaches love this city, because the fans treat them like they’re players. If any assistant coach comes in here and experiences that, he’ll want to be here.”
LOCKOUT PLANS?: With the possibility of a lockout when the collective bargaining agreement expires June 30, Williams said his assistants have traveled around the country, meeting with players and ensuring their commitment to the program and staying in shape.
Williams used 2010 first-round draft pick Quincy Pondexter as an example of a young player putting in offseason work. Pondexter has spent the past three weeks in New Orleans and worked with kids during Williams’ camp.
“When you’re a young guy, you have to work on your game anyway, so you might as well be in the gym,”
Williams said. “Whether there’s a summer league or not, you’re still going to play, you’re still going to lift weights and do all the things that you do to get your body right. Q’s smart enough to come into the gym and work with the coaches.”
“This year was a year where I probably could have played him more, but I erred on the side of caution. I told Q he has to be hungry and demand minutes. He’s earning those minutes right now with his work and his ability to get up and come work on his game.”
POTENTIAL MOVES: With the free agency period slated to begin July 1 (barring a lockout) and the draft June 23, Williams said the Hornets will look to add length, referencing the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks’ big men, Ian Mahinmi and former Hornet Tyson Chandler.
“It’s commonplace in the playoffs,”
Williams said. “You want talent. You want guys who can put the ball on the floor, get to the basket and get to the free-throw line. One theme that we’ve seen over the past few months is that length, especially on the defensive end and the offensive boards, can help you win games. It’s something we’ve talked about and something we’ll have to address.”
