Charles Lee Discusses Hornets’ Offseason Moves

In a pair of interviews with Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer, Hornets head coach Charles Lee expressed optimism about the team’s offseason moves while acknowledging it was tough to see longtime starters LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges be traded to the Timberwolves and Suns, respectively.

Below are a few highlights from Lee’s two-part conversation with Boone.

On re-signing Coby White to a three-year, $74MM deal: 

“You take it back to when we traded for him, I was excited that we got him in our organization,” Lee said. “I’ve always followed him. I’ve always thought he was a really good basketball player. Having (Hornets assistant coach) Josh Longstaff on my staff, he would also talk about how great of a person he was as well and how great of a professional he is. And he brought so much to our environment.

“And obviously that big-time shot versus Miami (in the play-in tournament) cemented his name in the Hornets’ history books. But I think when we got him then, we knew we wanted to re-sign him and it worked out great that we have him back. And I think that he has to be focused on — and I have to be focused, the whole team — he doesn’t have to be Melo.

“He has to be Coby White. And it’s going to look differently with him at the helm. I’m excited about what he brings to that defensive side of the floor in terms of his ability to take charges and have a really good basketball IQ of how to guard people’s tendencies and stuff. Then offensively, I think he’s able to stretch the floor with his ability to shoot threes.

“In Chicago, we got to watch him when he had the ball in his hands. He plays so fast and we want to play with great pace. And throughout the whole year, even last year when we had him, he’s able to get to the free throw line. He’s able to get to the basket a little bit. And then when he gets to the basket, he made some really good reads. So, I think that he’s going to help our offense continue to take positive steps.”

On the addition of Naz Reid, whom the Hornets acquired from the Wolves in the Ball trade: 

“Yeah, big-time get with Naz. I think that between the size, the physicality, the experience in the Western Conference Finals, and when you talk about you’re trying to put together a team that has talent and versatility — he adds to that. But I think also we’ve struggled in the past with the level of physicality that comes as you get deeper in the season and in on all those playoff runs.

“He’s been there, he’s done it, he played a big part. So, I think that he’s going to be able to bring leadership from the perspective of by example, but also vocally. He can talk to the guys because he’s been in some of those pressure-packed, high-level situations and he succeeded. To be an undrafted player and then win the Sixth Man of the Year, be in the rotation, a key reserve on a Western Conference Finals team, is really impressive.

“I think that’s a testament to how hard he works. Everything that you hear about him as a teammate is phenomenal. To see what he does in the community, that every Timberwolves’ fan wants to go out and get tattoos of him and all those things, I think that he’s going to be very impactful on and off the court. And we’re super excited about getting him finally.”

On Lee’s excitement for the current roster and how the team can continue to take strides forward: 

“I’m very excited about our group because I think it’s a great mix and balance of young talent and veteran experience. As our young talent continues to grow, they need vets around them that can still hoop, and do it at a high level and also communicate to them and show them the ropes from a professionalism standpoint. But also in-game tactically how to be flexible, how to be open-minded. And we’ve now surrounded our young group with some very good veterans that still have a lot in the tank and can gain a lot more knowledge from them.

“So, I’m really excited about that. I love where our versatility and depth is. I think that we’re going to be able to play a lot of different ways now. When you talk about all the shooting that we have on the court, I think that’s going to help us a ton, too. And the unselfishness from everybody that I’ve seen so far, there’s a hard work, there is an environment of trying to help the new guys and welcome them into our environment as fast as possible.

“There’s a ton going on in a positive way where I think our group is already starting to kind of jell and mesh together.”

On what Lee wants to see from Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel this offseason: 

“I just want to see those two guys continue this summer working on their bodies, working on their games. I think both are in a really good spot. I would like to see their relationship continue to grow, and as their relationship grows, I want to see their leadership with the entire roster continue to grow. I think it’s important for both of them to find their voice. Both players are really smart, and they’ve got to be able to communicate with one another at an even higher level, and then even with their teammates.

“I look forward to them growing. Putting them in some different responsibilities on both ends of the floor this year is going to be important from my standpoint, too. But both guys are in a really good spot. They’ve had great summers. Watching Kon sit on the bench at summer league, watching Brandon during his rehab workouts, but also talking to everyone else in the gym and trying to impart wisdom to our rookies during summer league practice and going over to the vet workouts and talking …

“So, I’ve just seen a ton of growth from these guys and I just want to continue to encourage them to find their voice in leadership.”

Lee’s conversation with Boone also covered trade acquisitions Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, first-round picks Hannes Steinbach and Christian Anderson, and what he has seen from 2024 lottery pick Tidjane Salaun this summer. Both parts of the interview are worth checking out in full for Hornets fans.