The Hornets continued their youth movement on Tuesday by officially introducing Charles Lee as Head Coach.
Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, Jeff Peterson, noted how Lee fit all the traits he was looking for in the coaching search. “Charles did a tremendous job in terms of embracing those qualities and traits. It became very evident that he was the right person to lead us going forward”.
Lee, aged 39, began his coaching career in 2014 under Mike Budenholzer and the Atlanta Hawks. Since then, Lee has won two championships with the Milwaukee Bucks (2021) and Boston Celtics (2024). At the introductory press conference, Lee was ecstatic about this opportunity, saying “I fully believe this is the right job at the right time”.
Lee’s ten years of coaching experience has given him a realistic view on roster construction and what it takes to win. When asked about translating Boston’s “smothering defense” to the Hornets, Lee highlighted how each team has different personnel, making it extremely difficult and nonsensical to translate a certain system across organizations.
Charlotte’s roster will be a stark change for Charles Lee. He began his career with a veteran ladened Atlanta Hawks team, spearheaded by Al Horford, Kyle Korver, and Paul Millsap. The 2021 Milwaukee Bucks had an average age of 28 years, while the most recent NBA champion Boston Celtics’ average age was 27 years. The Hornets young nucleus could be Lee’s biggest challenge, despite being known for his knack of developing players.
The Hornets look to enter a new era in Charlotte, with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller being the cornerstones for the franchise moving forward. Lee’s relationship with his players is off to a great start, citing how they kept open lines of communication, providing encouragement to their new head coach during Lee’s playoff run, which culminated in an NBA championship.
The 2024 NBA Draft will be another opportunity for the Hornets to select an impact player, but Lee told the media he has complete trust in Jeff Peterson and the Hornets front office to make the right selection, based on their due diligence in the scouting process.
The Hornets currently hold the No. 6 pick in this year’s draft, with the option to trade up, down, or stay put. One thing has remained clear despite the uncertainty of this year’s draft. The Hornets have selected a front office and head coach that fits the timeline of their star studded nucleus, giving Charlotte one of the most promising futures in the eastern conference.
Listen to the NBA draft tonight beginning at 7 p.m. on 730TheGame and 97.5 FM
