The winds of change are raging across the Tar Heel State, with the Charlotte Hornets on their way towards an eighth straight season on the outside looking in at the NBA’s postseason. At 13-41 and 10.5 games out of the 10th and final spot in the NBA’s playoff or play-in bracket, the Hornets have officially turned their collective eyes towards the future — with longtime GM Mitch Kupchak stepping into an advisor role after six seasons with the franchise.
The longtime Lakers and Hornets executive oversaw the construction of Charlotte’s roster, which has gone on to have more losing seasons (five) than playoff wins (zero) in Kupchak’s six-year tenure with the team. However, on the eve of expanded NBA betting in North Carolina, all is not doom-and-gloom for the Hornets suddenly after the NBA trade deadline. In Kupchak's final act, the team traded away players like Terry Rozier, P.J. Washington and Gordon Hayward for mostly future draft picks, but also landed veterans in Seth Curry, Grant Williams and Tre Mann.
The immediate result has been a feel-good 3-0 run, without LaMelo Ball, that has helped establish a little more enthusiasm for the Hornets' future. It may even be slightly too early to give up on the Hornets playoff chances.
But as for the big picture, Hornets owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin this offseason will have their hand at picking the man charged with returning Charlotte to the sport’s biggest stage for the first time since 2016.
With all that in mind, BetCarolina.com broke down the odds on which candidate could replace Kupchak in Charlotte, as the Hornets look to start anew in the new year.
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Who Replaces Mitch Kupchak In Charlotte?
While Charlotte’s immediate results after the trade deadline are impressive, with three straight wins over the Memphis Grizzlies, Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks, the proof will be in the proverbial pudding in the new league year.
That’s because whichever candidate ultimately replaces Kupchak in Charlotte will likely have a lofty lottery pick to build around in 2024, with the Hornets currently holding the fourth worst win percentage (.241) in the NBA.
That should allow our leading candidates, such as current Brooklyn Nets assistant GM Jeff Peterson (+500), New Orleans Pelicans GM Trajan Langdon (+600) and Washington Wizards VP/Player Personnel Travis Schlenk (+800) to build a solid roster in the new league year alongside Ball and thriving rookie Brandon Miller.
Other candidates to keep an eye on in the race to replace Kupchak include Boston Celtics Vice President of Basketball Operations Mike Zarren and Los Angeles Clippers GM Trent Redden (+1000 each), while Cleveland Cavaliers GM Mike Gansey and Sacramento Kings Assistant GM Wes Wilcox round out our list, at +1200 apiece.
Stick with BetCarolina.com for more Hornets coverage, plus the best North Carolina sportsbook promos now available statewide.
