New Orleans coach Byron Scott, who led the Hornets to their first playoff appearance in four years this season, has been chosen as the NBA coach of the year, The Associated Press has learned.

A person with knowledge of the award spoke with the AP on condition of anonymity because the league had not yet announced it.

New Orleans sent a media advisory Monday afternoon, saying it planned a "major announcement" today following the Hornets' gameday shootaround.

Scott is expected to receive the award today before the Hornets host the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. New Orleans leads 3-1.

Scott took over the Hornets in 2004-05 and went 18-64 while presiding over a roster overhaul that included the trade of star guard Baron Davis to the Golden State Warriors.

New Orleans then drafted guard Chris Paul with the fourth overall pick in 2005 and steadily improved from there. The Hornets narrowly missed the playoffs last season before setting a franchise record for wins this season at 56-26, good for the Southwest Division crown and the second seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

This marks the first time Scott, who twice coached the New Jersey Nets to the NBA Finals earlier this decade, has received the award.

Turkoglu chosen most improved player: Hedo Turkoglu, whose 19 points, five rebounds and five assists per game helped the Orlando Magic win its first division title in 12 years, was selected as the NBA's most improved player.

Turkoglu's numbers marked career highs in each category, and dramatic improvements from 13 points, four rebounds and three assists last season. He earned back-to-back Eastern Conference player of the week awards in late January and early February and was named player of the month for April.

Stern not ordered to testify: NBA commissioner David Stern will not be ordered to testify in a case brought by the city of Seattle to try to keep the SuperSonics from moving, though a federal judge may consider ordering the testimony in the future.

U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska rejected most of the requests of the lawyers for the city of Seattle, saying she didn't think some of the information they were seeking from the NBA was necessary to press their claims.

Preska had been asked to decide what evidence the city can seek from the NBA before a June 16 trial in federal court in Seattle to decide whether the Sonics must complete the final two years of a lease agreement for Seattle's KeyArena, the NBA's smallest venue.