Floyd Is Named Coach of What’s Left of Bulls

Tim Floyd can finally ditch those business cards with “director of basketball operations” on them and break out the real ones.

Six months after he arrived in Chicago, the Bulls dropped the “in-waiting” tag Friday and officially made Floyd their coach.

“It’s going to be a daunting task,” he acknowledged. “I’m standing here in front of six trophies, you’ve got a Hall of Fame coach that you’re replacing and the best basketball player in the world left your team two days ago.

“So if anybody wants to trade positions, come on,” he added, drawing laughter.

It would be hard to find a job tougher than the one the former Iowa State coach is inheriting. Michael Jordan retired two days ago, Scottie Pippen is as good as gone and last season’s championship team is all but dismantled.

The Bulls have only four players under contract--Ron Harper, Toni Kukoc, Randy Brown and Keith Booth. That’s not even enough to hold a real practice when training camp opens next week.

Floyd, 44, has no NBA experience, but he does have a solid record as a college coach. Still, his appointment hardly came as a surprise. He’d been rumored to be Jackson’s successor for the past two seasons--long before Jackson got on his motorcycle and roared off last June after the Bulls won their sixth championship of the decade.

“He’s stepping into the fire and he knows it,” Steve Kerr, one of Chicago’s many free agents, said of Floyd. “He’s the coach who comes in when Michael Jordan leaves. I don’t envy him. He’s got a tough job ahead.”

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The Nets didn’t come up with almost $100 million to keep Jayson Williams until another NBA team made an offer to lure the all-star center away from New Jersey, his agent said.

Williams and the Nets reached a tentative agreement on Thursday on a seven-year deal for the player many consider the best offensive rebounder in basketball, Sal DiFazio said.

While he would not disclose terms of the deal, DiFazio said it is guaranteed on three levels, with the first five years reportedly worth $82.5 million.

DiFazio refused to identify the team that offered to sign Williams. Detroit, Charlotte and Seattle reportedly were interested in signing the 30-year-old veteran of nine seasons.

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Sacramento King majority owner Jim Thomas will sell controlling interest in the franchise and its arena to the Maloof family of Albuquerque.

The ownership change will be effective July 1.

The Maloof family, which owned the Houston Rockets from 1979 through 1982, purchased a one-quarter interest in the Kings a year ago for $37.5 million, with an option to purchase the rest of Thomas’ 53% interest within five years.

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The NBA has reinstated seven officials who resigned last summer after being charged with tax violations.

Commissioner David Stern announced that George Toliver, Jess Kersey, Hank Armstrong, Mike Mathis, Joe Crawford, Joe Forte and Don Vaden will resume their officiating careers.

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Rodrick Rhodes, one of only four signed players on the Rockets, will be sidelined up to 10 weeks after tearing a chest muscle while lifting weights.