Orleans Hornets decided to give Tim Floyd a chance to prove he is a better coach than his disastrous NBA debut with the Chicago Bulls.

Floyd, whose 49-190 record with Chicago in just over three seasons left him with one of the lowest winning percentages in NBA history, reached an agreement with the Hornets Monday.

Floyd said he would earn about $4.8 million in base salary during three years, plus incentives tied to playoff victories, but added, “I didn’t get back into this for the money.”

Hornets vice president Bob Bass has long said it would be unfair to judge Floyd — a successful college coach — by his experience in Chicago, where he had a young and often-changing roster in the Bulls’ post-Michael Jordan era.

Floyd’s challenge could be establishing a good rapport with players who were outspoken in their support of former coach Paul Silas before the Hornets decided not to renew his contract.

Silas, the franchise’s career victory leader with a 208-155 record in four-plus seasons, was earning about $1.5 million a year with the Hornets but was seeking about twice that. Floyd’s base salary will be among the lowest in the league.

The Hornets interviewed two other coaches — Mike Fratello and Brian Hill. Fratello withdrew from consideration last week.

Despite his NBA struggles, Floyd remains popular in New Orleans, where he’s lived nearly 14 years over several stints, including a six-year period as head coach at the University of New Orleans. He took UNO to the NCAA Tournament twice before moving on the Iowa State for four seasons and three NCAA Tournament appearances.