"Two Hornets players, whom new coach Monty Williams warned repeatedly Tuesday would not sneak up on anyone next season, both said they're looking forward to meeting Williams and playing for him next season. Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton, New Orleans' successful rookie backcourt this past season, met Williams before the NBA draft last summer when each worked out for the Portland Trail Blazers, Williams' former employer. "I don't know a lot about him," Collison said Tuesday, "but I know when I worked out with Portland before the draft, I had a chance to meet him, and while I was on the court, he talked to me about some things. I liked his demeanor. He was real laid back, but he knew what he was talking about. From what I'm hearing, he's deserving of a head-coaching job -- and even though it'll be his first, he's been around for a long time. "Look at last year's team when Nate (McMillan) went out (with an Achilles injury), he took some of that responsibility that Nate had. I know he's worthy of it. I can't want to get in there and start again." Thornton, too, said Williams seemed nice when Thornton went through a pre-draft session last year, and that his playing background seemed helpful in his on-court demonstrations." http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-4/1276065634224470.xml&coll=1
