Breaking: Hornets land in a new big name from lakers

Charles Lee, the new head coach of the Hornets, has formally completed his coaching staff.

Charles Lee, the new head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, is assembling what is becoming an underappreciated team for his first lead role even though he will soon be coaching in the NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics.

Assistants Lamar Skeeter of the Utah Jazz, Josh Longstaff of the Chicago Bulls, and Chris Jent of the Los Angeles Lakers have been added by Lee. Jent completes Lee’s entourage of principal assistants, as reported earlier this week by Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer.

Jent was a head coach in the G League before joining the Lakers most recently. While Jent was an assistant for the Atlanta Hawks under Mike Budenholzer from 2017 to 2022, Lee and Jent came into contact with each other.

Budenholzer had a significant impact on Lee’s employees. Longstaff was a former employee of Jent’s and Lee’s in Atlanta. The Hawks organization also included new general manager Jeff Peterson and co-owner of the Hornets, Rick Schnall.

Any club that hopes to quickly end a decade-long postseason drought knows how important alignment is. Charlotte has demonstrated that they all agree on what the organization’s next actions should be since the regular season concluded. The quick succession of Lee’s staff members also demonstrates that.

Now that the coaching staff of the Hornets can be thoroughly examined, this team has a lot of promise. With more than 20 years of experience as an assistant, Jent, who is 54 years old, has by far the most experience. A youthful influx with a primary focus on player development for the Hornets’ young core of talent led by LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Mark Williams is suggested by the ages of Lee, Skeeter, and Longstaff.

The 2024 NBA Draft is less than a month away, and Charlotte has officially settled into their new front office and coaching staff. Based on all signs, Lee is the top choice for the Hornets’ coaching search, and his glowing evaluations throughout the league have supporters excited about a new chapter in the franchise’s history.

For all the most recent updates on the Hornets heading into what should be a pivotal summer for the team, keep an eye on Swarm & Sting.

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Grant Williams nearly went to the Bucks rather than the Hornets in a deal.

Williams reportedly declared that he was almost headed to Milwaukee rather than Charlotte for his homecoming.

Grant Williams was reportedly on the verge of being dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks but was ultimately dealt to the Charlotte Hornets at the deadline in February from the Dallas Mavericks.

During Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks, Williams appeared on an alternate TNT live broadcast in the players lounge. He talked more about his fit with the Hornets and other things.

Williams stated that he was on the verge of getting dealt to Milwaukee rather than having a kind of reunion with his hometown in Charlotte.

Williams stated, “We determined which team would look the best, and Charlotte was the best opportunity.” “I believe Milwaukee was the only other team that might have been a possibility, but the deal fell through.”

Williams mentioned a transaction involving Dallas and Milwaukee that included a trade for Bobby Portis. P.J. Washington, who is currently an important member of Dallas’ postseason rotation, was not the player they received; instead, it was Portis.

As the Bucks consider possible moves, Portis, who could become available on the trade market this summer, told Shams Charania last month that a deal that included Williams and him didn’t feel right.

“I’m thinking there’s no way I’m getting traded for this guy, pardon my French,” Portis remarked when he saw indications of it. “That’s my guy, but Grant Williams shouldn’t be traded for me.” That doesn’t even seem correct.

Ultimately, it proved to be beneficial for the Hornets as they rebuilt. Along with Williams, they were able to secure a first-round protected selection from Dallas in the top two by sending Washington to Dallas.

Williams will contribute to the Hornets’ potential ascent up the Eastern Conference standings going into the 2024–25 season.

Williams declared, “We’re not going to be no laughingstock no more,” regarding the Hornets. “We intend to be a competitive team that plays with intensity. We are going to be a cohesive team. At the end of the season, we were proud of that, and we’ll start the next campaign with Mark Williams, LaMelo (Ball), and all of our other players returning. I anticipate having a great time playing with that.

Williams averaged a career-high 13.9 points per game and 3.2 assists in his 29 games with the Hornets. Williams became a vital team leader and dependable voice in the young Hornets’ locker room right away.

Charlotte needs to keep bringing in veterans who can contribute both on and off the court. Williams has so far garnered excellent evaluations, and his go-to guy approach will only serve to highlight their youthful core for the upcoming season and beyond.