{"id":66588,"date":"2024-03-08T08:00:20","date_gmt":"2024-03-08T13:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=66588"},"modified":"2024-03-08T12:40:56","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T17:40:56","slug":"jeff-peterson-first-hire-hornets-premier-franchise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/03\/08\/jeff-peterson-first-hire-hornets-premier-franchise\/","title":{"rendered":"Jeff Peterson Nails First Hire to Make Hornets &#8216;Premiere Franchise&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>After hiring former Brooklyn Nets executive Jeff Peterson to lead their basketball operations, Peterson has made his first official move as Charlotte Hornets executive vice president. Per ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Hornets are hiring Atlanta Hawks vice president of player personnel Dotun Akinwale as assistant general manager.<\/p>\n<p>As such, Akinwale becomes Peterson\u2019s first acquisition for what the latter believes will become \u201cthe premier franchise of the NBA.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Jeff Peterson &#8211; &#8220;You are going to get sick of me saying this, but we are going to turn this into the premier franchise in the NBA&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rcKVk5PkTo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/rcKVk5PkTo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 James Plowright (@British_Buzz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/British_Buzz\/status\/1765410240118329674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 6, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Hornets Hire Dotun Akinwale as Assistant GM<\/h2>\n<p>Akinwale had been with the Hawks since the 2015-16 season, beginning his executive career as their Manager of Scouting. In 2019, Atlanta renamed him Director of Scouting before promoting him again in 2021. In taking that step, Akinwale was named Senior Director of Player Personnel before a final promotion to Vice President of Player Personnel at the start of the 2023-24 season.<\/p>\n<p>Notably, Peterson worked with the Hawks for several seasons before landing with the Brooklyn Nets. From 2013-14 to 2014-15, Peterson served as both a scout and as Basketball Operations Coordinator for Atlanta. In 2015-16, Peterson was promoted to Director of Scouting, where Akinwale would work under him. Promoted to assistant general manager in 2016, Peterson remained in that role with the Hawks until 2019, when he left Atlanta to take the same job with the Nets.<\/p>\n<p>As such, Peterson and Akinwale have quite a bit of familiarity with one another, having been colleagues for four years (2015\u20132019). It\u2019s also worth mentioning the scouting backgrounds of both Peterson and Akinwale.<\/p>\n<h3>Building Organically<\/h3>\n<p>Charlotte\u2019s core players, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/ballla01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">LaMelo Ball<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/millebr02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brandon Miller<\/a>, have All-Star-caliber talent. Indeed, in their most recent drafts, the Hornets drafted several promising prospects: Duke center <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willima07.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mark Williams<\/a>, Kentucky forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/washipj01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">PJ Washington<\/a>, Kentucky guard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/monkma01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Malik Monk<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>However, the Hornets have had a noticeably poor draft record overall over the years.<\/p>\n<p>2021 No. 11 pick, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bouknja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">James Bouknight<\/a>, has played just 79 games with Charlotte after three seasons. Averaging 18.7 points per game in his second and final season at UConn, Bouknight has a career average of 4.8 points per game in the NBA. They\u2019ve yet to hit on any of their second-round picks this decade, although <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/baileam01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amari Bailey<\/a>\u2014 last year\u2019s 41st overall pick\u2014 has shown solid potential.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, while building through the draft benefits every franchise, it\u2019s essential for teams like the Hornets.<\/p>\n<p>Due to Charlotte\u2019s status as <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/02\/12\/mitch-kupchaks-resignation-brings-in-a-new-era-for-the-hornets\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">a bottom-rung team<\/a>, they\u2019re unlikely to sign marquee free agents. Even if they offer oversized contracts, free agents will turn their noses up at the idea of playing for a team with such a poor reputation. To that point, when asked about Charlotte regaining their status as playoff contenders, Peterson says the Hornets \u201cdon\u2019t want to skip steps, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/British_Buzz\/status\/1765410837253034252?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">we want to do it organically<\/a>\u201d (h\/t SI Now\u2019s James Plowright).<\/p>\n<p>But, to be frank, the Hornets <em>have<\/em> to build their roster organically.<\/p>\n<h3>Revamping Their Scouting<\/h3>\n<p>Looking at Peterson and Akinwale\u2019s draft history, they could be the right men for the job. In their time with the Hawks, Atlanta drafted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/y\/youngtr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Trae Young<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/collijo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">John Collins<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/huertke01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kevin Huerter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Young, a 3-time All-Star, is one of the league\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/02\/16\/hawks-rajon-rondo-reveals-thoughts-unstoppable-trae-young\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">elite offensive talents<\/a>. His potential hasn\u2019t been questioned for a while. However, he did have doubters around the time of the 2019 NBA Draft. Ranked 23rd in his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/college-sports\/basketball\/recruiting\/player\/_\/id\/203210\/trae-young\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">high school class<\/a> by ESPN, Peterson and Co. deserve credit for believing in his ability.<\/p>\n<p>Collins and Huerter are no longer with the Hawks. Nonetheless, both remain starters. In fact, Collins has the eighth-highest career true shooting percentage (62.3) and offensive rating (120.9) in NBA history. He ranks 20th among active players in career rebounds per game (8.1). Huerter has posted a double-digit scoring average for five consecutive seasons and has a career 3-point percentage of 38.2.<\/p>\n<p>Since Peterson left Atlanta, the Hawks have also drafted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/johnsja05.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jalen Johnson<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Johnson is having a career season in Atlanta, averaging 15.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. A stat-sheet stuffer, Johnson was selected 20th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. Finding a player of his caliber outside of the lottery is a show of their scouting department\u2019s strength. It\u2019s also the type of analytical ability that the Hornets have been missing.<\/p>\n<p>Lastly, in Peterson\u2019s time with the Nets, their most notable draft acquisitions were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/thomaca02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cam Thomas<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/claxtni01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nic Claxton<\/a>. Averaging 20.9 points per game, the 22-year-old Thomas is a Most Improved Player candidate in what\u2019s just his third season. Claxton, who has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statmuse.com\/nba\/ask?q=highest+block+average+since+2022-23\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the fifth-highest block average<\/a> since 2022-23, is already one of the league\u2019s elite defenders. Both were drafted outside the top-25.<\/p>\n<h3>Taking the Long View<\/h3>\n<p>The Hornets are rebuilding inside and out, with an eye on long-term results.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur main goal is to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/news\/hornets-introduce-jeff-peterson-executive-vp-basketball-operations\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">have sustained success<\/a>,\u201d Peterson says, per Steve Reed of The Associated Press. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to make the playoffs one year and then we\u2019re out for another three or four years. We want this to be sustainable and turn this team into a consistent winner.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In light of the comments from his introductory press conference, Peterson\u2019s decisions should and will be judged on how they enable the Hornets to attain and retain a status as playoff contenders. Having failed to reach the playoffs every season since 2016-17, Charlotte\u2019s front office is being met with a tall task.<\/p>\n<p>Nonetheless, in making use of Peterson\u2019s personal relationships, roster-building approach, and executive background, the Hornets just might be knocking on the door of redemption.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After hiring former Brooklyn Nets executive Jeff Peterson to lead their basketball operations, Peterson has made his first official move as Charlotte Hornets executive vice president. Per ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Hornets are hiring Atlanta Hawks vice president of player personnel Dotun Akinwale as assistant general manager. As such, Akinwale becomes Peterson\u2019s first acquisition [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5008,"featured_media":66590,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,4,1608,62],"tags":[49094,49093,98],"class_list":["post-66588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hornets","category-hawks","category-basketball","category-nba","tag-dotun-akinwale","tag-jeff-peterson","tag-nba-draft"],"modified_by":"Zach Kircher","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66588","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5008"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66588"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66588\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/66590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}