--Larry Brown's coaching staff is firming up. Phil Ford and Jeff Capel are holdovers from the previous staff under Sam Vincent and longtime Brown assistant Dave Hanners has joined the staff after settling his contract with the Knicks. Hanners worked for Brown in Philadelphia, Detroit and New York.
Brown said his first priority in selecting assistants would be loyalty, so it's no surprise that Ford and Hanners -- fellow Tar Heels and longtime associates -- would be on the staff. --Cleveland Cavaliers G Eric Snow still has a standing offer to join Brown's staff once his injury-related retirement is completed. Snow is still owed more than $7 million for next season, but injuries have effectively ended his playing career and the Cavs reportedly have begun the process of formalizing a disability retirement.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "If you draft a wing player, you better know you have something else you can do with your roster, maybe the trade avenue." -- Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins, on the crowd that already exists at the shooting guard and small forward positions.
