Shakeup at home Charlotte Hornets. A few hours ago he resigned Mitch Kupchak, now former President of Basketball Operations.
According to ESPN, this decision would end his management career, which began in 1986, soon after he retired as a player. He arrived at the head of management of the Los Angeles Lakers after only one year, Kupchak has won seven titles behind the yellowviolet desk, to add to the three he won as a player. The highlights of his managerial career are the trade of Shaquille O’Neal (negative) and the trade that brought Pau Gasol to California (positive) giving the 2009 and 2010 titles to the Lakers.
In 2018 he landed in Charlotte, where however he will remain in a marginal role, as an organizational consultant. His last acts were the trades of Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, and PJ Washington, as well as the termination of Kyle Lowry. Moves that will allow the new PBO to rewrite the roster to his liking. Recall that a change of ownership materialized a few months ago for the Hornets, which were sold by Michael Jordan to a Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin partnership.
Already begun the search for a new president with the focus on current general managers, the role that is normally the one immediately below the PBO in the NBA “cursus honorum.” The hottest names are those of Elton Brand, Daryl Morey’s dolphin at the Sixers, the former Treviso Trajan Langdon Pelicans, Mike Gansey of the Cavaliers and Trent Redden Clippers.
Possible, but less likely, double jumpers for Jeff Peterson of the Brooklyn Nets, Travis Schlenk of the Wizards or Wes Wilcox of the Kings.
In addition to many new players, Charlotte is also expected to see a change on the bench dictated by new management leadership. On the court LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller will be the foundation of the new technical project, also in doubt is Miles Bridges who will become a free agent at the end of the season. The new president is expected to take office by the end of the regular season, and the Bridges deal will be one of the very first choices he will have to make.
