When owner George Shinn was asked last week to assess the job Scott has done and if his job is safe for another year, he said it was a loaded question.

"I haven't sat down with all my Basketball people to go through all those things," Shinn said. "A lot of teams in this league would say they're happy to have won 49 games. What happened with the fact we've had injuries the way we have and our coaching staff is good. I can't complain, because we haven't had our team at full strength. Everyone will be analyzed and evaluated in the offseason. I'm analyzed every day."

Scott signed a contract extension last season, but it expires after next season, confirmed by the team Friday.

Scott might be granted the opportunity to pursue coaching vacancies this offseason. That could include the Sacramento Kings, who might be interested in Scott, a league source said.

As of Friday, the Kings had not contacted the Hornets to request permission to speak to Scott, who was the NBA's Coach of the Year last season and coached the West team in the 2008 All-Star Game at the New Orleans Arena.

Any franchise expressing an interest would have to be willing to buy out the final year of his contract, valued at $5.5 million.

Scott could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

The Hornets (49-33) were eliminated in five games by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. In Game 4, the Hornets fell 121-63 -- which tied the worst playoff loss in NBA history -- on April 27 at the Arena.

"No matter what happens, I am so proud of these guys," Scott said before Wednesday night's elimination defeat (107-86) at the Pepsi Center in Denver. "I thought it was a disservice to our guys the way the fans reacted the other night (during their 58-point loss at the Arena), booing those guys and then reading that Tyson (Chandler) is not this and that.

"These guys are playing hurt. They are going out there giving everything they've got to try and win, not only for themselves but the city of New Orleans. But this year, it has been an up-and-down season because of injuries and all the adversity they had to go through. But to still win 49 games, I think it is a tribute to them on the way they've played all season long."

It's too soon to predict what direction the Hornets might take, but it's apparent they will make changes to their roster. The Hornets are facing a luxury tax this summer if they keep their existing roster. Under league rules, no offseason trades can occur until July.

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John Reid can be reached at jreid@timespicayune.com