Alvin Gentry will join the Hornets' coaching staff today, becoming the fourth and final assistant under head coach Tim Floyd.

Gentry will be introduced at a 10 a.m. press conference at the Alario Center, sources said.

Gentry, 48, has been an NBA head coach for parts or all of seven seasons, compiling an overall record of 177-226 with the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Clippers. His most recent stint was with the Clippers and ended March 3, when he was fired as the Clippers struggled to a 19-39 record amid expectations that the young, talented team might challenge for a playoff berth in the Western Conference.

Gentry's first head coaching job was with the Heat, when he replaced Kevin Loughery during the 1994-95 season and posted a 15-21 record. Next was a three-year stretch with the Pistons; he replaced Doug Collins and led Detroit to a 16-21 record in 1997-98, went to the playoffs after a 29-21 record in the lockout-shortened season of 1998-99 and was fired after 58 games and a 28-30 record the next season.

The Clippers selected him as head coach before the 2000-01 season and won 31 and 39 games before floundering this past season. Gentry was replaced by Dennis Johnson.

It could be Miller time in Coors country.

With Gilbert Arenas' salary demands possibly being too high, Andre Miller of the Los Angeles Clippers has emerged as a more viable point guard option for the Denver Nuggets entering the free-agent signing period.

"It's definitely a consideration," Miller said Sunday from his Sacramento, Calif., home about signing this summer with the Nuggets.

Throughout the season, Arenas, named the NBA's Most Improved Player for Golden State, was thought to be at the top of Denver's list. But Miller might prove to be a better bargain.

Dan Fegan, Arenas' agent, is likely to push for a contract with a first- year salary of about $9 million when teams begin negotiating Tuesday with free agents. Teams can't sign players until July 16.

Fegan's thinking apparently is that Arenas, a restricted free agent who can't sign with Golden State for more than the midlevel exception of $4.6 million because of the team's salary-cap situation, could return for one season at that amount. He then could sign a seven-year maximum deal with the Warriors, which would start at about $10 million.

If that were to occur, Arenas would make more in the long run with the Warriors than if he signed with the Nuggets for a first-year salary of $7 million, about all Denver might want to pay.

Beware, Kurt Thomas, Latrell Sprewell and Charlie Ward. The Knicks plan to carry momentum from Thursday night's draft and make some July splashes as free agency begins tomorrow.

In a 2003 free-agent class much deeper than last summer's, the Knicks prefer to execute a sign-and-trade rather than use their $4.9 million mid-level exception. (They may have to use some of that exception for 7-foot rookie small forward Maciej Lampe).

"We have to do more," Don Chaney said. "To be honest with you, we probably will make some trades and that will determine where we are. I'm very positive we will make some trades."

The Knicks' immediate needs haven't changed much since the draft, though it would be absurd to land another power forward. The drafting of Mike Sweetney at No. 9 is enough Antonio McDyess insurance, but it still left the club undersized at the three frontcourt positions.

So Sprewell and Thomas are not safe. The Knicks would love to get longer at small forward and center and maybe add quickness at point guard. Ward will have immense trade value for a payroll-trimming club because of a buyout clause in his contract.

The Knicks are intrigued by restricted free agent Lamar Odom, a 6-9 small forward who would provide much-needed athleticism. It would take a sign-and-trade to make it happen because the Clippers will probably match a mid-level exception offer.

The Jazz's hopes of reaching the top of the NBA standings may depend upon how well they mine the bottom.
   
Clippers, Warriors and Hawks -- those are the teams the Jazz wouldn't mind raiding for free agents next month, a seemingly contradictory strategy given that none have reached the playoffs in this century. But that's where the young talent lies in the 2003 free-agent class.
   
Gilbert Arenas of Golden State, who averaged 22.5 points and 5.8 assists in four games against the Jazz last season, would add a scoring boost in John Stockton's vacated point-guard spot. Jason Terry of Atlanta, who averaged 26 points and 8.5 assists in two matchups with Utah, isn't a bad option, either.

If the Nuggets don't sign Los Angeles Clippers guard-forward Lamar Odom to a contract, at the very least they should consider hiring him as a spokesman.  

The Nuggets haven't been to the NBA playoffs since 1995 and won just 17 games last season. But with the team's current front office and coaching regime, a reputation for a strong work ethic, the recent addition of high draft pick Carmelo Anthony, renovated facilities and salary-cap room in mind, Odom said Denver is a great destination for free agents, himself included.

"The Denver Nuggets are an organization on the rise because there are a lot of moves they can make," Odom said Saturday in a telephone interview. "A lot of teams can't make these moves, but they want to make their teams better. I know (the Nuggets) are going to make their team better.

"It's not only because of the money that they have. It's about where the organization is going. When we went to play the Nuggets (last season), I saw the coaches working out players hard. And this was before the game. So I know what direction they want to go. They want to make their team better. They want to win. I think that's the big difference. If you're a free agent, you can see that and decipher that. And as a free agent, you think you can help their organization because they want to help themselves."

NBA teams can begin negotiating with free agents Tuesday and begin signing them July 16. Odom and fellow Clippers Elton Brand, Michael Olowokandi, Andre Miller and Corey Maggette are free agents and have said they would consider signing with Denver.

Normally at this time of year, Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller is able to chill. Not anymore. The NBA free agent market opens Tuesday, and for the first time in Miller's long tenure in Utah, which began in April 1985, the Jazz figure to be players. Teams are allowed to contact free agents Tuesday, but no signings can take place until July 16. But you know how that goes. Nod. Wink. Done deal. The Jazz, Nuggets, and Spurs all should have well in excess of $10 million to spend on a free agent pool that includes Jason Kidd, Jermaine O'Neal, Michael Olowokandi, Gary Payton, Karl Malone, Juwan Howard, P.J. Brown, Brad Miller, and Alonzo Mourning. The Spurs already have Kidd lined up for a visit.

The Celtics are expected to sit on the sidelines and wait until later in the summer to see who's still available for minimum contracts. Utah's actions hinge in part on what Malone does. Miller is on record that he won't dramatically overpay the Mailman, so as not to torpedo the team's free agency plans. Malone has been vague about his intentions, other than that he doesn't plan to retire like running mate John Stockton.

''I think Karl wants to stay,'' Miller said in a recent interview. ''He has a beautiful home in the foothills. He is established in the community. Sure, he goes off every once in a while. But he usually ends up doing what's right and makes a level-headed decision. But if he wants a shot at a ring, that won't shock me, either. I think it would be a difficult adjustment for him. He's a homebody.''

Malone is believed to have some interest in the Western Conference teams with a legitimate title opportunity: the Spurs, Mavericks, and Lakers. But he also is interested in passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer, and to do so, he needs to score a lot of points in the next two years. Said Miller, ''If he went to Dallas, or if he went to San Antonio, I don't think he'd get enough chances. If he goes to LA, how is he going to get 20 touches a game? I don't think it's a slam dunk. He has a difficult decision to make. But we owe it to him to let him do whatever his heart tells him to do and then try to facilitate that the best way we can.''

The Jazz are believed to be targeting Clipper restricted free agent Andre Miller. Under NBA rules, once a team extends an offer to a restricted free agent like Miller, his team has 15 days to match. Utah's offer theoretically would be high enough so that legendary skinflint Donald Sterling, the Clippers owner, would let Miller go. It's not as if Miller dramatically changed the landscape in LA in his one season there anyway. Plus, he played collegiately up the street from the Delta Center at the University of Utah, so it's a natural fit.

In the end, the Clippers took the safe route Thursday in the NBA draft. Facing the strong possibility of losing center Michael Olowokandi to free agency next month, they selected Chris Kaman from Central Michigan with the sixth overall pick.

They also took Sofoklis Schortsanitis, a raw and untested 18-year-old forward/center from Greece, with the 34th pick. Called "Baby Shaq" because of his 6-foot-8 3/4, 285-pound frame, Schortsanitis will play another season in Europe before the Clippers decide whether to bring him to Los Angeles.

Kaman was their prized pick Thursday, a player who could help them fill a large void in the middle next season.

"He's by far the best low-post center in this draft," General Manager Elgin Baylor said of the 6-11 1/2 Kaman, who averaged 22.4 points on 62.2% shooting and was the Mid-American Conference player of the year as a junior last season.

Or as Barry Hecker, the team's director of player personnel, said, "Centers are hard to find. It's a very difficult position. In this draft, he's the only center if you stop and think about it. That's the man right there ? Chris Kaman."

Planning ahead for the expected departure of starting center Michael Olowokandi, the Clippers used the sixth pick in Thursday's NBA draft to select 7-footer Chris Kaman of Central Michigan.

An early entry candidate, Kaman applied for the draft after his junior season in which he averaged 22.4 points and 12 rebounds per game. He was the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year and an honorable mention All-America pick.

"We're very excited about our pick,'' Clippers vice president Elgin Baylor said. "He's a legitimate center. He has excellent low-post moves. He has great footwork. He can face the basket and hit the perimeter shot. He is very skilled.''

Baylor denied that the Clippers drafted Kaman as a replacement for Olowokandi.

"I didn't do it with that thought,'' Baylor said. "That was not our thought going into the draft of trying to replace Michael or anybody.''

In the remote chance that the Clippers do re-sign Olowokandi, who is an unrestricted free agent, their center position instantly has depth and size. Olowokandi and Wang Zhi-Zhi are the only true centers on the team but while the 7-foot Olowokandi is a low-post player, Wang (7-0) is more comfortable on the perimeter.

"We would be in great shape,'' Baylor said. "We'd have two good 7-footers so if one got hurt or one got in foul trouble we could put the other one in.''

According to Clippers director of player personnel Barry Hecker, Kaman was the best available center in this year's draft. That made him a logical choice to plug in at center with Olowokandi all but certain to leave through free agency.

The Clippers made qualifying offers Wednesday to forwards Elton Brand and Lamar Odom, and to guards Corey Maggette and Andre Miller.

The formality, in accordance with the NBA's collective-bargaining agreement, ensures that the Clippers can match any offers the four players receive from other NBA teams.

All four Clippers are restricted free agents and can begin negotiations with other teams July 1. Offer sheets can be signed after July 16.

"These players are an important part of our team,'' Clippers vice president Elgin Baylor said. "The step we took today is a necessary one in order to begin any discussions on July 1 and to preserve our right to match any outside offer.''

The Clippers could use a little help starting today. By the looks of it, they need a new center, a new point guard and a new coach, although they won't have all three crossed off their to-do list when the clock strikes midnight.

Or maybe even by the end of next month.

Michael Olowokandi is expected to seek a new contract elsewhere when he's eligible to begin talking to other clubs Tuesday, and it probably won't be long after the free-agent signing period begins July 16 that he lands a new deal.

Which means the Clippers could be looking for a center today, when they select sixth and 34th overall in the NBA draft. Chris Kaman, who stands nearly 7 feet and weighs 255 pounds and averaged 22.4 points in a traditional post-up role last season at Central Michigan, would be a logical first-round pick.

But it's not quite that simple for the Clippers, who begin what promises to be an eventful off-season with today's draft at New York City.