Hornets Seeking ‘Jack Of All Trades’ In Coaching Search

The Charlotte Hornets need a new coach and the interview process has already begun. All of the candidates so far are either current NBA assistants or in the case of JJ Redick, a former NBA player and current ESPN analyst.

Whatever the case may be, the Hornets cannot carry on as is. They’ve just been too down for too long and are slipping into basketball irrelevancy. It seems even their most loyal fans may be among those losing interest.

So this is a pretty big hire for new head of basketball operations Jeff Peterson, who came over from the Brooklyn Nets in late February. Soon thereafter, ex-coach Steve Clifford moved into the front office. It was his own choice entirely.

So what, exactly, are the Hornets seeking in terms of Clifford’s successor? Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer spelled it out in a reader mailbag.

“Steve Clifford’s successor will have to be a jack-of-all-trades,” Boone wrote. “He’ll have to be good at player development because the Hornets have a young crop that must continue to grow and blossom. The new coach must also connect with (LaMelo Ball) and command respect in the locker room — and on the court. A willingness to work alongside Jeff Peterson, the Hornets’ vice president of basketball operations, and the team’s ownership.

“These qualities are non-negotiable. Remember, this will already be Ball’s third coach in five seasons and the Hornets have to get it right. If they don’t the consequences could be disastrous.”

Boone is right. The Hornets have two really nice pieces around whom to build in Ball and rookie forward Brandon Miller, who alone can draw eyeballs with his electric play.

But no one notices you when you’re not winning, or at least competing for a spot in the NBA postseason.

Charlotte’s next coach, whoever that may be, will be charged with that task. So yes, Boone is correct. It has to be someone who covers all the bases.

Along with Redick, the Hornets reportedly have interviewed or will interview Denver Nuggets assistant David Adelman and Milwaukee Bucks assistant Charles Lee — though the search is said to be very much in the early stages.