http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?STORY_ID=17309 Avery And The Hornets: New Jersey Nets' head coach Avery Johnson wanted the New Orleans Hornets' coaching job. He wanted it last year when then-head coach Byron Scott was fired and Johnson and his representatives made a hard push for consideration again this summer. Like everything Avery does, his pursuit of the Hornets' job was dogged and relentless and ultimately that set badly with then Hornets' GM Jeff Bower. People close to the situation say Avery was too vocal about wanting the job during the season when Bower was trying to make the playoffs, and Bower, according to sources, felt like Johnson was undermining his job and was annoyed at back channel overtures to ownership. Johnson says he has no hard feelings towards the Hornets for not hiring him, but he was a little disappointed in how he was painted after interviewing for the job, with rumors of a power grab and a vice-presidency demand ultimately derailing his bid to be the coach. "The only thing that I was disappointed with was the process itself, and some of the things that came out," Johnson explained to John Reid of The Times Picayune. "But at the same time, I've been friends with Monty for 10 years, and I've known (Hornets General Manager) Dell Demps for a long time. I think they are meant to be there, and I'm meant to be where I am at. I'm always going to be a New Orleanian and a St. Augustine grad." "I'm going to have family and friends there. We really want the Hornets to survive and thrive in New Orleans. I know they are redeveloping and reorganizing some things, but Dell is going to do a good job. Whatever happens, it won't be because those guys are not qualified."...
