With Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford deciding to step down at the end of the season, the organization is already looking for his replacement.
Per ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Hornets have received permission to interview four head coach candidates: Denver Nuggets lead assistant David Adelman, Sacramento Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernandez, Boston Celtics lead assistant Charles Lee, and Phoenix Suns associate head coach Kevin Young.
Hornets Receive Permission to Interview 4 Head Coach Candidates
David Adelman
Adelman has been an assistant since 2011, coaching for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic before landing in the Mile High. He’s been on the Nuggets bench since 2017. As a result, he’s had a courtside view of the process that led to Denver becoming a perennial championship contender.
Nikola Jokic’s all-time talent has obviously been a driving force in their success. However, Michael Malone has arguably been just as important. The Nuggets head coach has instilled a winning culture in Denver and his player development skills are proven.
In Charlotte, Adelman could use the lessons he learned from Malone to do the same. The son of Hall of Fame coach Rick Adelman, his basketball mind and pedigree are highly praised.
Jordi Fernandez
Fernandez has been coaching in the NBA since 2009, initially as a player development coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Prior to leaving the organization in 2016, he was also head coach of their G League affiliate —the Canton Charge —for the last two seasons. In 2016, Fernandez was hired as an assistant coach by the Nuggets. He held that role for several seasons, leaving for a promotion with the Kings. Last summer, he was also hired as the head coach of Canada Basketball, replacing Nick Nurse.
Fernandez is a popular head coach candidate due to his basketball IQ, adaptability, and ability to connect with players. The 41-year-old holds a PhD in sports psychology.
Charles Lee
Lee has been coaching in the NBA since 2014. Beginning his career as an assistant with the Atlanta Hawks, Lee followed former head coach Mike Budenholzer to the Milwaukee Bucks. He joined the Celtics bench as their top assistant coach last offseason.
Because of his coaching journey, Lee is essentially a protege of Budenholzer. Budenholzer is a member of Gregg Popovich’s famed coaching tree, spending 17 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs.
Popovich learned under Hall of Fame head coaches Larry Brown and Don Nelson. Brown was highly regarded for his player development and teacher’s mentality. Nelson is considered to be the innovator of the point-forward and small-ball. With both Popovich and Budenholzer, these specializations have carried over. They may with Lee as well.
Lee is among the most prized head coach candidates, interviewing for the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Detroit Pistons during their most recent vacancies. He’s been praised as a leader and tactician.
Kevin Young
Young got his NBA start in 2009 as a G League assistant coach, being promoted to head coach after just a year. By 2016, Young had shown himself to have strong player development skills and landed with the Philadelphia 76ers as an assistant. In 2020, Young was hired by the Phoenix Suns, who promoted him to associate head coach in 2021.
Young is regarded as a great listener, communicator, organizer, and planner, per ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz. His work ethic, forthrightness, and sharpness have also been praised. Furthermore, with Frank Vogel now at the helm in Phoenix, Young is considered the Suns’ offensive coordinator. Phoenix currently ranks 10th in points per game (116.9) and ninth in offensive rating (118.6).
A Momentous Offseason
Clifford, 62, has been the team’s head coach since the 2022-23 season. However, he’s coached the Hornets for seven of the last 10 seasons. As a result, the Hornets are on the verge of a momentous offseason.
Charlotte now has at least two young All-Star-caliber core players in LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. If they keep the controversial Miles Bridges and their projected top-3 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, they could have up to four.
Whether Adelman, Fernandez, Lee, or Young is the team’s head coach or a candidate that has yet to be named, all that can be sure is the Hornets’ next moves need to be their best moves.
