After multiple rounds of interviews, the Charlotte Hornets have finally decided who will be their new head coach, nabbing Boston Celtics lead assistant Charles Lee.
A new chapter begins. We’re thrilled to announce the new Head Coach of your Charlotte Hornets, Coach Charles Lee! 🐝👏
Presented by @CorcoranHM
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) May 9, 2024
Lee will head to Charlotte on a four-year deal, per ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
Charles Lee – who reunites with Hornets EVP of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson – will finish the Celtics’ playoff run before moving full-time into the Hornets’ job, sources said. He was part of the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks championship under Mike Budenholzer. https://t.co/OJbN13izSr
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 9, 2024
Wojnarowski also adds that Lee will step into his new role full-time at the end of the Celtics’ playoff run.
Hornets Hire Charles Lee as Head Coach
The 39-year-old Lee joined Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla’s staff last summer. Prior to joining Boston’s bench, he coached under former head coach Mike Budenholzer with the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks. With the Bucks, he was promoted to associate head coach in 2022-23. However, he only held that role for one season as Milwaukee fired Budenholzer at the end of their playoff run.
In his 10 seasons as an assistant coach, Lee’s teams have only missed the playoffs once, winning the NBA championship in 2021. In that span, his teams have had the top record in their conference four times. Although most of the credit goes to Budenholzer and Mazzulla, it’s a noteworthy trend that speaks to what Lee is familiar with and would hope to achieve.
Player Development and Pressing Buttons
The Hornets’ overall talent level is far below the Celtics’ current roster or the Bucks teams that he coached. Charlotte doesn’t have a perennial All-Star yet, let alone an MVP candidate.
Nonetheless, while there may not be a Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jayson Tatum in Buzz City, 2020 No. 3 pick LaMelo Ball has gotten off to a fine start in his NBA career. After winning Rookie of the Year in 2021, he earned his first All-Star selection the next season. 2023 No. 2 pick Brandon Miller has displayed star potential as well, averaging 17.3 points per game as a rookie. Whether the Hornets use their lottery pick in the upcoming draft or trade it, it may turn into another All-Star-caliber player.
That said, one of Lee’s primary tasks will be player development.
A masterful communicator, Lee’s just young enough to connect with Ball and Miller in the ways his predecessor couldn’t. For all of Steve Clifford’s acumen, he wasn’t able to press the right buttons in Charlotte’s locker room.
This was particularly evident in the way the Hornets played defense. Although their personnel didn’t do them many favors either, Charlotte often played without fire and physicality at that end. If Lee can maximize his team’s upside, especially on defense, they may be the next young team to make a run to the NBA Playoffs. Fortunately, he’s learned from two great defensive coaches in Budenholzer and Mazzulla.
