5 Head coach candidates the Charlotte Hornets may consider
By Ben Brady
3. David Adelman
The son of NBA Hall of Fame head coach Rick Adelman, David joined Minnesota Timberwolves as a player development coach under his father. He was the organizations head coach for its Summer League team for three seasons until leaving Minnesota to join the Orlando Magic as an assistant in 2016. The following season, he joined Michael Malone’s staff as an assistant with the Denver Nuggets and won an NBA Championship with the team last season.
Last year, Adelman was interviewed for Toronto’s coaching vacancy. For Charlotte, bringing in the lead assistant from a team that has just won a title would certainly not hurt the organization’s goal to institute an expectation of success.
2. Kevin Young
Young began as a head coach in the NBA’s G-League in 2010 and, until 2016, played an integral role in developing talent, most notably former G-League player Christian Wood. He joined the Philidelphia 76ers as an assistant in 2016, and in the three years after he led the team to the postseason each season. He joined the Phoenix Suns as an assistant in 2020, and in his first season helped the team to its first NBA Finals appearance since 1993. He was promoted to associate head coach, and has continued to help the team to postseason appearances.
Young was interviewed for the 76ers coaching vacancy in 2020, and has since been interviewed for openings with Houston, Toronto and Milwaukee, as well as finishing as the runner-up for the Suns’ position in 2023. With such high demand around him, the Hornets would surely jump at the opportunity to consider Young for their opening.
1. Charles Lee
With nearly a decade of NBA coaching experience, Lee began as an assistant with the Atlanta Hawks in 2014 and remained there for four seasons. He followed head coach Mike Budenholzer to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2018, and won an NBA championship as an assistant with the team in 2021. Last offseason, he became an assistant with the Boston Celtics, and has guided the team to the league’s best record this year. In nine seasons, his teams have amassed a 506-226 record.
Lee already has ties within the front office, having worked with Peterson and owner Rick Schnall in Atlanta. Additionally, he was previously interviewed for organization’s coaching vacancy in 2022. Lee’s successful coaching experiences and his familiarity with key figures within the organization could cast him as a promising candidate for the position.