When Saints owner Tom Benson bought the NBA’s New Orleans Hornets, we joked that Saints coach Sean Payton could spend his one-year suspension working for the team.
As it turns out, Saints G.M. Mickey Loomis will spend his half-year suspension doing just that.
Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that Loomis “likely” will oversee basketball operations for the Hornets.
It also looks like Loomis may have some oversight in both capacities, with Dennis Lauscha reportedly taking an expanded role with the Saints. Lauscha, previously executive vice president and chief financial officer, will become president of the Saints. Lauscha also is expected to have a “major role” with the Hornets.
At a Friday meeting to discuss the coming changes, owner Tom Benson also disputed a Times-Picayune report that his granddaughter, Rita Benson LeBlanc, had been placed on administrative leave for three months. “You know, Rita took a couple months vacation there, and people got the wrong impression,” Benson said. “We’re not reducing her in any kind of way. You’re looking at the whole organization, and you can see she’s right there.
“And as we’ve taken on some of these outside activities, I told Rita I want her to get more involved in them, even if it took away some time here [with the Saints], and leaning on Dennis a little more.”
It looks like the Saints will be leaning on Dennis even more, and that the Hornets will be leaning on Loomis, specifically during the eight games when he isn’t allowed to be working for the Saints.