The head coach
It would ironic to go back to the coach you just fired in James Borrego (2018-2022), a coach who achieved a 10-win increase each of his seasons coaching. Serving as a branch from the Gregg Popovich coaching tree, he instilled in his team tempo, finishing with the 8th-best offensive rating. Amassing the second most wins in the reinstated Hornets’ history with 43 in his final season.
Last season Kenny Atkinson, after agreeing with Charlotte, ditched the Hornets to stay on with the Golden State Warriors instead of taking his talents down to the Queen City. When Atkinson left MJ high and dry for “family reasons,” he fell back on his safety valve.
A disheartened and disappointed Jordan had his old favorite coach Steve Clifford on speed dial. Following his first stint with Charlotte from 2013-2018 and achieving an underwhelming 196-214 record, he was granted a rebuilding team with eyes on the lottery.
Now Clifford is known to be a defensive-minded coach but the Hornets ended the 2023 season with the 27th-ranked defense. As odd as it may sound, MJ and Clifford have quite the history together, but with MJ (potentially, maybe) stepping aside, could the same be true for Clifford?
In fairness, a chef is only as good as his ingredients, just as a coach is only as good as his personnel.