Turbulence engulfs the Tar Heel State as the Charlotte Hornets stampede towards an eighth consecutive season watching the NBA’s postseason from afar. At 13-41 and 10.5 matches behind the 10th and final playoff or play-in position, the Hornets set sights on the future, with long-serving GM Mitch Kupchak transitioning into an advisor role after six campaigns with the franchise.
The ex-Lakers and Hornets executive constructed Charlotte’s roster, accumulating more losing seasons (five) than playoff victories (zero) during Kupchak’s six-year tenure. However, on the cusp of expanded NBA betting in North Carolina, rays of light peer through the gloom after the NBA trade deadline. In Kupchak’s final move, the Hornets swapped players like Terry Rozier, P.J. Washington and Gordon Hayward mainly for future draft picks but also added veterans Seth Curry, Grant Williams and Tre Mann.
The immediate upshot is an uplifting 3-0 run without LaMelo Ball establishing restored enthusiasm for the Hornets’ prospects. Prematurely ruling out a late Hornets playoff push could prove foolhardy.
But the big picture mandates that Hornets owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin this offseason choose the individual entrusted with guiding Charlotte back to the sport’s apex for the first time since 2016.
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The Next Hornets GM
With that in mind, CarolinaPlays.com analyzed the odds on candidates to replace Kupchak in Charlotte as the Hornets seek a fresh start in the new year.
Next Charlotte Hornets GM Odds
Candidate Odds Pct. Chance
Nets Assistant GM Jeff Peterson +500 16.7%
Pelicans GM Trajan Langdon +600 14.3%
Wizards VP/Player Personnel Travis Schlenk +800 11.1%
Celtics VP/Basketball Ops Mike Zarren +1000 9.1%
Clippers GM Trent Redden +1000 9.1%
Cavaliers GM Mike Gansey +1200 7.7%
Kings Assistant GM Wes Wilcox +1200 7.7%
Other +350 22.2%
Odds provided by CarolinaPlays and not yet available on North Carolina sports betting apps.
The Post-Kupchak Era
While Charlotte’s current three-game streak over the Memphis Grizzlies, Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks impresses, sustainable success remains uncertain.
That’s because whoever ultimately replaces Kupchak likely claims a prime lottery pick in 2024 to reconstruct around, with the Hornets currently possessing the fourth worst win percentage (.241) in the NBA.
Frontrunners like current Brooklyn Nets assistant GM Jeff Peterson (+500), New Orleans Pelicans GM Trajan Langdon (+600) and Washington Wizards VP/Player Personnel Travis Schlenk (+800) could therefore assemble a competitive roster next season alongside Ball and thriving rookie Brandon Miller.
Other options like Boston Celtics Vice President of Basketball Operations Mike Zarren and Los Angeles Clippers GM Trent Redden (+1000 each), plus Cleveland Cavaliers GM Mike Gansey and Sacramento Kings Assistant GM Wes Wilcox (+1200 each), also intrigue.
Stay with CarolinaPlays.com for more Hornets news, plus the top North Carolina sportsbook promos ahead of statewide mobile sports betting launch on March 11.
✅ Updated on February 24, 2024 by Frank Sutton
Frank Sutton is a sports journalist with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He has specialized in sports betting for over a decade, establishing himself as an expert in this area. With his extensive knowledge and experience, Frank provides insightful analysis and commentary on sports betting operator reviews, odds and outcomes.
