Charlotte Hornets Rumors: Big changes could be on the way

The 2023-24 season has been a struggle for the Charlotte Hornets this season. Charlotte is currently losing games at a rate that is two-and-a-half times more than their win frequency. At 7-19, it is hard to justify continuing to keep their configuration intact, and this is not exclusive to the players on the roster.

It is widely believed that the Hornets could make some changes before next season, with a recent report from Hoops Hype's Michael Scotto noting that the belief is strong that this will indeed happen. Considering how this season has played out, that is not a surprise, but there is another factor at play here. 

The Hornets recently underwent an ownership change, with Michael Jordan selling his majority share to a group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall. As is the case with any ownership takeover, those in positions of power go through an intense evaluation process with a little bit of time to prove or disprove they are worthy of their positions. The world of sports usually sees this process play out over the first season under a new group of owners. This process was an expected one in Charlotte, and it appears to be headed in a result that is not necessarily a surprise.

While the Hornets have dealt with their fair share of injuries this season, the decision to part ways with Mitch Kupchak would be based on multiple years of disappointing results. Charlotte appears destined to be a lottery team once again and has never advanced into real postseason play under Kupchak. This does not sound like the resume of someone who is going to be considered safe for Charlotte's new ownership group.

With the expectation that Kupchak will be let go, it would be hard to envision a scenario in which head coach Steve Clifford remains employed. The decision to bring Clifford back into the fold in the first place was a confusing one at best and has since continued to age more poorly with each loss. Should the Hornets part ways with Kupchak, the individual taking his place would more than likely like to bring in his own coach who aligns with their vision, and that is not a description that applies to Clifford.

It seems like it is only a matter of time before the Hornets look to jumpstart ushering in the next era of basketball in Charlotte by putting an end to the combination of Kupchak and Clifford for good.