Larry Brown will begin his record ninth NBA head coaching job when the Charlotte Bobcats visit LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
But Brown's hiring didn't create any more interest in the Bobcats from the league's TV partners. The schedule released Wednesday doesn't have Charlotte appearing in any nationally televised games.
The Bobcats open the season Oct. 30 in Cleveland, then play eight of their next nine games at home, starting Nov. 1 against the Miami Heat.
BOBCATS SIGN GUARD: The Bobcats signed 6-foot-4 guard Shannon Brown to a one-year deal Wednesday for the NBA minimum of about $800,000. The former Michigan State player played in 21 games for the Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls last season.
CLIPPERS ACQUIRE NOVAK: The Los Angeles Clippers acquired Steve Novak, a 6-foot-10 forward who can shoot from the perimeter, in a deal with the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. In return, the Rockets will have the option to exchange second-round picks with the Clippers in the 2011 NBA draft.
KNICKS ADD ASSISTANT: The New York Knicks added assistant coach Kenny Atkinson to Mike D'Antoni's staff. He joins Herb Williams, who was retained after the firing of Isiah Thomas, and former Phoenix Suns assistants Phil Weber and Dan D'Antoni.
