Woj: Celtics assistant Charles Lee might be candidate for Hornets head coach

Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Wednesday that the Charlotte Hornets will contemplate Celtics assistant head coach Charles Lee for his or her head teaching job as soon as they half methods with Steve Clifford this summer time. Clifford will transfer right into a entrance workplace position.

Mitch Kupchak additionally stepped apart as Charlotte’s normal supervisor final month whereas Michael Jordan offered his controlling share of the group to Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin, who employed Jeff Peterson from the Nets amongst finalists that included Celtics government Austin Ainge. Alongside Lee, Peterson will assess Kings assistant Jordi Fernandez, Warmth coach Chris Quinn and Suns No. 2 Kevin Younger, all widespread candidates for earlier openings vying for his or her first alternative.

Lee, an NBA coach since 2014, who obtained his begin below Mike Budenholzer after unsuccessfully making an attempt out for the Spurs throughout Budenholzer’s tenure there, took a winding path by Atlanta and Milwaukee. They gained the 2021 championship collectively, culminating in Lee rising as a candidate for the Celtics’ open teaching job when Brad Stevens stepped apart to turn out to be president. Ime Udoka landed the place over Lee, Chauncey Billups and different candidates. Lee returned to the Bucks for 2 seasons earlier than narrowly lacking out on the Pistons’ head teaching place. Monty Williams stepped in to win that race late over Lee and Kevin Ollie.

Milwaukee had fired Budenholzer following his first spherical defeat final 12 months and Adrian Griffin obtained precedence as a reported Giannis Antetokounmpo favourite, getting rid of Lee, who Boston focused to take over Joe Mazzulla’s bench after practically the whole thing of Udoka’s former employees departed over two years. Sam Cassell and Lee returned some stability to the unit, with Jrue Vacation’s arrival and his current relationship with Al Horford from Atlanta all making his arrival a easy transition. He additionally boasted a loud and personable demeanor that some have in comparison with former Celtic coach Doc Rivers.

“(Lee’s) management has been nice,” Horford mentioned on Wednesday. “He’s only a man that cares about profitable. He transmits that to the group and he’s been an enormous a part of what we’ve achieved right here … I feel it’s been fairly seamless, he speaks his thoughts, he’s given us some nice enter. He at all times has good perspective. Has a great really feel for the sport … he’s slot in with the group, him, Joe and the teaching employees. These guys are fairly linked. I don’t ever really feel a disconnect from the start, from September since we’ve all been right here, it felt like he’s been working with us for just a few years. That’s how good it’s been.”

The job he’d enter with the Hornets weighs equally promising and daunting. Charlotte will choose within the top-five once more perhaps after scoring the most effective gamers in final 12 months’s class in Brandon Miller, who will seemingly end third in Rookie of the 12 months voting. LaMelo Ball’s potential stays sturdy, regardless of accidents over the past two seasons the place he mixed to play 58 video games. Miles Bridges turns into an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Constructing blocks turn out to be arduous to seek out on the roster after them, however Mark Williams is an intriguing younger heart and Grant Williams has proved succesful as a depth large upon arrival in February.

Clifford coached them to a 45-102 file over the previous two years, returning as a cease hole between James Borrego and whoever is subsequent. Charlotte had made two runs to the Play-In below Borrego earlier than their current downturn. Drafting woes going again one decade, most not too long ago taking James Bouknight No. 11 general in 2021, have harm the franchise’s sustainability. Bridges’ ghastly home violence expenses in 2022 derailed his budding profession.

Lee is smart in a small market, teaching a younger group and getting the good thing about using cap area alongside a primary time GM. Quinn, a long-time Erik Spoelstra understudy, feels inevitable as the selection to fill some group’s upcoming opening. Fernandez virtually landed the Toronto Raptors job. Younger drew consideration to step into Williams’ sneakers in Phoenix earlier than Frank Vogel grew to become obtainable.

Washington and Brooklyn will seemingly seek for new head coaches this offseason too, after transferring on from Wes Unseld Jr. and Jacque Vaughn mid-season. Portland and Chicago are value watching, however will in all probability stand pat with Billups and Billy Donovan. It’ll be intriguing to see if Cassell, additionally a previous head teaching candidate elsewhere, attracts curiosity from any of these groups given Boston’s success. DJ MacLeay and Tony Dobbins have additionally gained over a number of years on this Celtics employees now, too.

The Milwaukee state of affairs might turn out to be attention-grabbing as effectively. If their unsteady play continues, hiring a fourth head coach in three years appears inconceivable with all their lifeless cash owed out. Lee is acquainted with that franchise.

“It’s not secret that (Lee) is a type of guys,” Horford mentioned. “It’s only a matter of time when he’s gonna able to get a head teaching job. He’s been nice with us and we’re having fun with each step of the season with him. He’s simply introduced so much to our group, lots of expertise and he offers us lots of confidence.”