Byron Scott Axed

Byron Scott became the first NBA coach to lose his job this season when the Hornets dropped the axe this week. Scott's departure wasn't unexpected -- his contract expires after this season, and his high salary and middling job performance made him an obvious target for the perpetually cost-cutting Shinn family. When the Hornets stumbled out of the gate to a 3-6 record -- including a loss to the lowly Knicks -- Scott's fate was sealed.

Stealing a page from the Minnesota Timberwolves' "You made this mess, you clean it up" Playbook, the team has given general manager Jeff Bower the coaching job for the remainder of the season. The T-Wolves did the same last year with general manager Kevin McHale -- who, you'll note, is no longer employed by the team. Bower's short-term prospects seem similarly bleak.

Bower will be assisted by Tim Floyd -- the ex-USC head coach who quit earlier this year amidst allegations he made payments to representatives of Trojan guard O.J. Mayo.

In other words, he was probably willing to work cheap.

This situation is going to get worse before it gets better. Already there are reports that franchise player Chris Paul is not pleased with the development and the fact that he wasn't consulted beforehand. Meanwhile, the Hornets are painfully thin on the perimeter, where big-money free agents Peja Stojakovic and James Posey have been major disappointments -- and management is desperate to shed another $3 million in salary to avoid the dreaded luxury tax... so don't expect reinforcements.

Best guess? The 2010-11 season will be Chris Paul's last in a Hornets uniform... and quite possibly, the team's last in New Orleans.