RealGM

While the Kings' search should be completed shortly, the Hornets are in the early phase of their outreach to potential candidates for their head coaching opening.

The decision to terminate James Borrego, only eight months after Charlotte awarded him a two-year contract extension, appears to have come directly from Hornets governorship, not the front office spearheaded by general manager Mitch Kupchak.

League sources had been whispering about Charlotte chairman Michael Jordan's dissatisfaction with the Hornets' lackluster defense, though it's fair to wonder which bench leader could have had greater success on that end of the floor with such a young unit and a roster that is devoid of a trademark rim protector.

Kupchak, sources said, has been conducting Charlotte's due diligence on potential candidates and operating as if he will remain as the Hornets' front-office leader for the foreseeable future even though his contract will expire at season's end. While Charlotte has discussed pinpointing an eventual Kupchak successor for multiple years, it appears the roadblock to a new contract has been more of a monetary divide with ownership than the executive's fitness for the role.


D'Antoni is expected to receive consideration for the Hornets' opening. Kupchak hired him in 2012 to helm Los Angeles, and Charlotte is said to value previous head coaching experience in its search, similar to the process in Sacramento. D'Antoni's uncanny ability to maximize playmaking point guards would seem to form a natural marriage with the Hornets' future, featuring second-year All-Star Ball.

Charlotte may be D'Antoni's best chance to return to the sideline in 2022. He's been a popular name floated among league personnel as a potential replacement for Doc Rivers in Philadelphia should Rivers or the 76ers decide to change direction at the conclusion of these playoffs. But despite widespread rumblings of Rivers' intrigue in the Lakers' opening, and incessant talk of Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey perhaps desiring a different play-caller, the 76ers have maintained that Rivers and team leadership remain aligned about their future together. Rivers' contract runs through 2024-25 at $8 million per season, which is a hefty price for ownership to swallow.

Brown and Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson were identified as other potential candidates for the Charlotte position. League sources have also mentioned Jerry Stackhouse, a North Carolina product who is the head coach at Vanderbilt and has long been known to desire an opportunity in the NBA.

Liver_Pooty wrote:Per Jake Fischer of bleacher report about Mark Jackson
Jackson is popular among many active players, perhaps because of his visibility as a color commentator for ESPN or his status as a former All-Star and the 1987-88 Rookie of the Year. LeBron James is known to have interest in Jackson for the Los Angeles Lakers' opening, as does LaMelo Ball with the Charlotte Hornets' vacancy, sources said.

MPM wrote:

Liver_Pooty wrote:Per Jake Fischer of bleacher report about Mark Jackson
Jackson is popular among many active players, perhaps because of his visibility as a color commentator for ESPN or his status as a former All-Star and the 1987-88 Rookie of the Year. LeBron James is known to have interest in Jackson for the Los Angeles Lakers' opening, as does LaMelo Ball with the Charlotte Hornets' vacancy, sources said.

I want a cool dad that lets me smoke weed in my lambo.

JDR720 wrote:If one of the reasons we fired JB was defense, hiring D'Antoni doesn't make sense. Offense isn't the problem.

I'd prefer a long term coach too. D'Antoni would be here a couple years at most.

BigSlam wrote:

While the Kings' search should be completed shortly, the Hornets are in the early phase of their outreach to potential candidates for their head coaching opening.

The decision to terminate James Borrego, only eight months after Charlotte awarded him a two-year contract extension, appears to have come directly from Hornets governorship, not the front office spearheaded by general manager Mitch Kupchak.

League sources had been whispering about Charlotte chairman Michael Jordan's dissatisfaction with the Hornets' lackluster defense, though it's fair to wonder which bench leader could have had greater success on that end of the floor with such a young unit and a roster that is devoid of a trademark rim protector.

Kupchak, sources said, has been conducting Charlotte's due diligence on potential candidates and operating as if he will remain as the Hornets' front-office leader for the foreseeable future even though his contract will expire at season's end. While Charlotte has discussed pinpointing an eventual Kupchak successor for multiple years, it appears the roadblock to a new contract has been more of a monetary divide with ownership than the executive's fitness for the role.


D'Antoni is expected to receive consideration for the Hornets' opening. Kupchak hired him in 2012 to helm Los Angeles, and Charlotte is said to value previous head coaching experience in its search, similar to the process in Sacramento. D'Antoni's uncanny ability to maximize playmaking point guards would seem to form a natural marriage with the Hornets' future, featuring second-year All-Star Ball.

Charlotte may be D'Antoni's best chance to return to the sideline in 2022. He's been a popular name floated among league personnel as a potential replacement for Doc Rivers in Philadelphia should Rivers or the 76ers decide to change direction at the conclusion of these playoffs. But despite widespread rumblings of Rivers' intrigue in the Lakers' opening, and incessant talk of Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey perhaps desiring a different play-caller, the 76ers have maintained that Rivers and team leadership remain aligned about their future together. Rivers' contract runs through 2024-25 at $8 million per season, which is a hefty price for ownership to swallow.

Brown and Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson were identified as other potential candidates for the Charlotte position. League sources have also mentioned Jerry Stackhouse, a North Carolina product who is the head coach at Vanderbilt and has long been known to desire an opportunity in the NBA.

LofJ wrote:Sweeney sounds like a future HC for sure, but he's still too young for that job imo. We need someone that has more experience.