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

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

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

Lee, an NBA coach since 2014, who received his begin below Mike Budenholzer after unsuccessfully making an attempt out for the Spurs throughout Budenholzer’s tenure there, took a winding path via 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 develop into 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 yr and Adrian Griffin obtained precedence as a reported Giannis Antetokounmpo favourite, removing Lee, who Boston focused to take over Joe Mazzulla’s bench after almost the whole thing of Udoka’s former workers departed over two years. Sam Cassell and Lee returned some stability to the unit, with Jrue Vacation’s arrival and his present 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 successful. He transmits that to the crew and he’s been a giant a part of what we’ve executed right here … I believe it’s been fairly seamless, he speaks his thoughts, he’s given us some nice enter. He all the time has good perspective. Has a very good really feel for the sport … he’s slot in with the group, him, Joe and the teaching workers. These guys are fairly related. 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 a couple of years. That’s how good it’s been.”

The job he’d enter with the Hornets weighs equally promising and daunting. Charlotte will decide within the top-five once more perhaps after scoring among the finest gamers in final yr’s class in Brandon Miller, who will doubtless end third in Rookie of the Yr voting. LaMelo Ball’s potential stays sturdy, regardless of accidents during the last two seasons the place he mixed to play 58 video games. Miles Bridges turns into an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Constructing blocks develop into exhausting to search out on the roster after them, however Mark Williams is an intriguing younger middle and Grant Williams has proved succesful as a depth large upon arrival in February.

Clifford coached them to a 45-102 report 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 latest 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 crew and getting the advantage of using cap house alongside a primary time GM. Quinn, a long-time Erik Spoelstra understudy, feels inevitable as the selection to fill some crew’s upcoming opening. Fernandez nearly landed the Toronto Raptors job. Younger drew consideration to step into Williams’ sneakers in Phoenix earlier than Frank Vogel turned obtainable.

Washington and Brooklyn will doubtless seek for new head coaches this offseason too, after shifting on from Wes Unseld Jr. and Jacque Vaughn mid-season. Portland and Chicago are price 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 workers now, too.

The Milwaukee state of affairs might develop into fascinating as nicely. If their unsteady play continues, hiring a fourth head coach in three years appears inconceivable with all their useless cash owed out. Lee is accustomed to that franchise.

“It’s not secret that (Lee) is a kind 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, a variety of expertise and he provides us a variety of confidence.”