The debate roared behind the scenes, Armstrong or Simmons, Simmons or Armstrong, but inevitably, the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets landed both players in this year's NBA Draft.

With the 12 and 15 picks, the Hornets needed size and settled on Connecticut's Hilton Armstrong with the 12th pick, only to see the other player that they coveted, Cedric Simmons, drop to them at the 15th pick.

"We're about as happy as we could be right now," said Jeff Bower in his first draft as Hornets general manager. "We had them ranked back-to-back, and the scrutiny that went into placing one in front of the other was the most we had to put into a prospect decision in a long, long time. We really had a long process trying to put one of the two first. That's how even we felt they really were, and how comfortable we were with both of them."

Hornets coach Byron Scott signed a three-year contract extension Tuesday that will keep him with the team through the 2008-09 season, the Associated Press is reporting.

Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but in 2004, Scott signed a three-year, $10 million contract with the Hornets, with a team option for a fourth year. Scott said earlier this week that the new deal included bonuses for wins, reaching the playoffs and other milestones.

"It wasn't anything that I was worried about," Scott said about the delay in signing the extension. "I knew it was just a matter of time. We had other pressing issues that we had to deal with and we still have to deal with, but I'm very excited and very happy about this being done at this particular time."

Byron Scott's business manager Brian McInerney said Monday that the Hornets' coach agreed in principle to a three-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2008-09 season

Under the terms of the new deal, three years of his contract will be guaranteed with the team having an option to renew for a fourth year.

"Like I said before, it wasn't something I was really worried about," Scott said. "But I'm glad that it's done. I know how hard I'm going to work to make this team better than we were last year, and just each year make a gradual step in the right direction. We've got stability with having the same coaching staff."

Byron Scott was close to signing a contract extension with New Orleans that could keep him with the team for three more seasons.

Scott guided the Hornets to a 20-win improvement in his second season with the club following a temporary move from New Orleans to Oklahoma City because of Hurricane Katrina.

"The deal is pretty much finalized and I'm happy about it and looking forward to getting the season under way," Scott said Monday.

The Hornets and Oklahoma City officials remain in disput over the split of the team's profits, according to The Times-Picayune.

Under the terms of their temporary agreement this past season, if the Hornets exceeded the revenue figure grossed during the 2004-05 season by more than five percent, Oklahoma City would receive 80 percent of excess revenues until its expenses are paid, and then the team and city would split the remaining profits.

Based on Oklahoma City officials calculations, they estimate $4.2 million should be the amount split between the city and the team after their $2.4 million in expenses are paid for the housing costs for Hornets employees and office space supplied to the team.

Based on the Hornets' calculations, $1.6 million is the amount of the profit share that should be split between the city and team.

The Associated Press reported Wednesday night that Oklahoma City rejected a $3.2 million settlement offer from the Hornets. According to the report, in a June 16 letter obtained Wednesday through an open records request by the AP, City Manager Jim Couch informed Hornets president Paul Mott that the city could not accept the offer and disputed the Hornets' calculation of a revenue benchmark on which the offer was based.

"While I do appreciate your presentation of this offer, the City believes the parties are bound by the terms of the Agreement and cannot circumvent the processes contained therein through the City's acceptance of a settlement," Couch wrote.

Late Wednesday night, Hornets director of corporate communications Michael Thompson denied an offer had been made to Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City's mayor Mick Cornett said today that he feels the NBA will not stray from Oklahoma City for long once New Orleans is capable of re-hosting the team.

Cornett is a former sportscaster who is overwhelmingly surprised by how receptive the city was to the NBA.

Along with hosting the Hornets, the city also hosts a new Dell call center, which Cornett feels will help the city's ascent.

The New Orleans Hornets will hang on to power forward Brandon Bass for at least another season.

Bass was a standout at LSU university and was drafted in the 2nd round of last year's NBA Draft.

Bass played in 29 games with the Hornets last season and averaged 2.3 points-per-game and 2.3 rebounds-per-game in just over 9.0 minutes-per-game.

The Magic are in the market for shooting guard and the Orlando Sentinel is reporting that the club is rumored to have interest in New Orleans Hornets shooting guard J.R. Smith, who will be on the trading block.

If J.R. Smith is still a Hornet by the time it rolls around, New Orleans is hoping that he, along with Brandon Bass, Kirk Snyder, Marcus Fizer and Linton Johnson, he will play for the summer league team in July in Las Vegas.

"And if not for all of it, at least for portions," Bower said. "We won't force anybody, obviously, but we are encouraged with their willingness to prepare and improve. It's a great midsummer checkup."

The Hornets could trade Smith, who will enter his third season this fall, before July. Smith clashed with Scott during the season and lost his starting job.

According to The Times-Picayune, Smith has participated in workouts in Houston with John Lucas, a former NBA player and coach. Smith is working out with other NBA players such as Steve Francis and Mike James. And according to Smith's father, Earl, the 6-foot-6 shooting guard now is at 225 pounds with 1 percent body fat.

The Hornets could wait until after the summer league to trade Smith -- if they trade him at all -- so he can showcase his abilities for opposing scouts.

Hornets coach Byron Scott expects to sign a contract extension by the end of the month, according to a report in The Times-Picayune.

"It's something that they've talked about, and hopefully it gets done," said Scott at the NBA Pre-Draft Camp. "We all would like for it to be done so we can move on, but it's nothing I'm that concerned about. I'm optimistic that it will be done in the next couple of weeks of so."

Hornets general manager Jeff Bower, who was promoted from director of player personnel in October, also expects a new contract.

"It will all get handled," Bower said. "It's not a part of my daily thought process. I know how busy we all are and how time commitments are taken."