The Charlotte Hornets are closing in on their next head coach, with former NBA sharpshooter JJ Redick and Boston Celtics lead assistant Charles Lee viewed as the finalists for the position, per Forbes Sports’ Evan Sidery.
Both Redick and Lee will have second interviews with the Hornets’ brass, which is now led by executive vice president Jeff Peterson.
Hornets Closing in on Head Coach, Who Should They Choose?
Lee becoming a finalist for the Hornets’ head coaching gig has been a long time coming, as the 39-year-old is one of the most popular candidates around. He makes as much sense for Charlotte as anyone they could hire.
A master communicator, Lee’s life experiences allow him to connect to front office executives and players at a human level. As a result, he’s the perfect go-between for a franchise that’s in rebuild mode. Often, teams in that position have to operate with the big picture in mind, sacrificing short-term success for long-term gains. One example of this is when rebuilding teams play young prospects over established players. A coach such as Lee would have little issue understanding the backroom politics that influence the way he’d be expected to coach.
On the other hand, someone such as Redick may find it difficult.
Is Redick Equipped for a Rebuild?
A 15-year NBA veteran, Redick’s experiences as a player have familiarized him with front office expectations.
However, listening to him speak —whether it be on ESPN, his The Old Man and the Three podcast, or the Mind the Game podcast —he may be resistant to prioritizing player development at the expense of wins. Such a short-sighted view isn’t problematic in the sense that coaches should want to win. Yet, being a head coach often requires a long view so that a team can have sustained success. This is particularly true during a rebuild.
Furthermore, the frustration of losing may bleed into Redick’s relationships with the front office staff or his players. An intense personality, Redick has battled against his own co-workers when he felt the ship wasn’t being steered the way he wanted it to go.
Lee Knows How to Win
The advantage that Redick has over Lee is one of playing experience. It’s also notable that from college to the pros, he played for several successful head coaches, including Mike Krzyzewski, Stan Van Gundy, and Doc Rivers.
However, Lee has been an NBA assistant coach for 10 years, primarily learning under Mike Budenholzer. Winning a championship with the Bucks in 2021, Lee’s only had one season in which his team didn’t reach the playoffs. That said, it’s unclear who has the higher basketball IQ. Nonetheless, Lee has demonstrated that he knows what it takes to win in the NBA as a coach. Redick has 110 games worth of playoff experience but his teams were never able to win it all.
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