Hornets hire top Celtics assistant as next head coach

The Charlotte Hornets have found their new head coach, and he comes from a top contender in the Eastern Conference.

According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Charlotte has signed Charles Lee to a four-year deal to become the Hornets' next bench boss. Before coming to Boston to work under Joe Mazzulla last summer, Lee spent five years under Mike Budenholzer.

During his time with the Milwaukee Bucks, Lee was a part of the organization's 2021 NBA championship run. It seems highly likely that he could add to his ring collection before heading down south as the Celtics look primed to win a championship.

The Hornets are coming off a disappointing 2023-24 season. With a 21-61 record, Lee will have his work cut out for him.

But Charlotte does have one of the most talented young players in the league in LaMelo Ball. The issue is that he has struggled to stay healthy. In the last two seasons, Ball has only played 58 games. 

This year, Ball only suited up for 22 games but managed to average 23.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and eight assists per game. If the guard can stay healthy, the Hornets could surge to the top half of the Eastern Conference.

With Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller, Lee is inheriting a decent roster. Nevertheless, it will be a test for the first-year head coach. Taking a team from the bottom of the conference to the playoffs is no easy task.

But Lee will have a guiding hand to lean on as he takes the next step in his career. He is replacing Steve Clifford, who wasn't fired but actually moved to a front-office role. With Clifford's over 20 years of coaching experience, Lee has a great in-house mentor.

It will be interesting to see how Lee does in his first head coaching role. It won't be easy, but if he can turn the Hornets into contenders, he will be quickly regarded as a top head coach.