Jeff Bower signed a five-year extension Friday to remain the general manager of the New Orleans Hornets through 2011.

Bower has overseen a dramatic overhaul of the Hornets since he was promoted to general manager in October to replace Allan Bristow. Only four players who went through training camp with the Hornets last season are still on the roster.

"We were all looking for change because nobody was satisfied with an 18-win season," Bower said. "As an organization, we were committed to great change."

Last season, the Hornets had the biggest improvement of any NBA team -- jumping from 18 wins in 2004-05 to 38 last season. Bower followed that by signing free agents Peja Stojakovic, Bobby Jackson and Jannero Pargo, trading for center Tyson Chandler and re-signing forward Rasual Butler in an offseason push to prepare the team for a run to the playoffs.

"It was a big jump from 18 to 38. It was a big jump, but we went into the offseason looking at that and understanding that to get from 38 to 43 or 44 may be even harder than getting from 18 to 38," Bower said.

"A lot of factors are at play there, but the biggest thing is when the difference in making that kind of jump is the difference that separates you from a team that is a potential playoff team to one who's on the outside looking in."