MAY 20: The Hornets have officially announced Kupchak’s extension.
“Mitch has done a great job leading our organization,” team owner Michael Jordan said in a statement. “He and his staff have assembled a talented, young team, and I’m excited about our future. I look forward to continuing to work with Mitch in the years ahead as our team continues to improve.”
MAY 19: President of basketball operations and general manager Mitch Kupchak told reporters that he has signed a multiyear extension with the Hornets, as Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer relays (via Twitter). It was previously reported that Kupchak was in the final year of his contract.
“For better or for worse, I will be here for the next couple of years,” Kupchak said Thursday, according to Steve Reed of The Associated Press. The executive declined to say when the contract will expire.
Kupchak has been with Charlotte since April of 2018. He was previously the long-time GM of the Lakers, having worked for the team for three decades after he retired as a player. Kupchak has won a total of 10 NBA championships in his lengthy career, three as a player and seven as an executive.
Kupchak has acquired an impressive array of talented players since he became the head of the Hornets’ basketball operations, including Miles Bridges, Devonte’ Graham (now on the Pelicans), Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, P.J. Washington, Cody Martin, Kelly Oubre, and All-Star LaMelo Ball, among others. However, the team has missed out on the playoffs in his four years at the helm, having been eliminated in the play-in tournament the past two seasons, which led to former head coach James Borrego being fired.
When asked about the contract status of Bridges, who’ll be a restricted free agent this summer, Kupchak said the team plans to re-sign him.
“Our intention is to keep Miles long-term, yes. He’s a big part of our future,” he said, per Boone (Twitter link).
Kupchak, who turns 68 next week, also said Charlotte has interviewed eight candidates for the team’s head coaching vacancy thus far (which aligns with our tracker), and he’s “hopeful of having someone in place within two weeks.” He added that he’s hoping to find a coach to take the team “to that next level” (Twitter link via Boone).
Bucks assistant Darvin Ham and Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson have reportedly received second interviews for the position, and former Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni is considered a serious candidate as well.
I could see moves for Dort, Holmes, and Ayton. Maybe even Hunter. They have to bring back Bridges.
This extension was probably to make hiring a HC easier, since a candidate would know the guy who hired him is likely to be around for a while.
In a cynical view, pretty clever play by the GM, since he’s the one that created the opening in the first place by firing Borrego. IDK if there’s a true connection and I have not researched it.
He made a great GM play in the 2018 draft that could be called cynical and did not get reported. Presumably he liked Miles Bridges, but figured out that the Clippers, one slot later, had promised Shai Gilgeous-A and were hiding him from other teams. Kupchak picked Shai and picked up two seconds in a trade they had to make to get Shai. Of course he could have kept him, but Miles B worked out and is at least close to max-worthy.
Kupchak’s last draft should not be judged yet, but I never liked picking Kai Jones or Bouknight… the potential is high but they are raw. They will take time.
Otherwise he’s just been okay. Lamelo was easy, the consensus pick.
The FAs had to be overpaid, probably, and one turned out. Graham was showcased well.
Great analysis of Kupchak.