Former Utah quarterback Brian Johnson was reportedly fired as an Eagles offensive coordinator.
Already having executed a significant transaction by trading starting wing Terry Rozier with the Miami Heat, the Charlotte Hornets will probably continue to engage in transactions until the trade deadline on February 8.
The Hornets (10-31) are currently on the verge of missing the postseason for the eighth consecutive season, the longest drought in NBA history.
Mitch Kupchak, general manager and president of basketball operations for the Houston Hornets is also acutely aware that the time has come to begin amassing draft assets in preparation for the future.
“I cannot discount the fact that we are a team attempting to construct something that will last, and… we will continue to look for opportunities,” Kupchak said regarding the possibility of additional trades.
“Moreover, should something materialize, we shall endeavor to implement it.” “That is precisely how it is.”
In exchange for Rozier, who was averaging a career-high 23.2 points per game in 46% shooting, the Hornets acquired a protected first-round pick in 2027 from the Heat as well as 37-year-old Kyle Lowry, whom they hope to trade before the trade deadline.
Miles Bridges and Gordon Hayward, veteran forwards whose contracts are expiring and will make them unrestricted free agents after the current campaign, are logical transfer candidates.
It is logical to assume that the Hornets, who own the Birds’ rights, would be amenable to trading both to acquire additional draft picks.
When specifically asked about Bridges as well as Hayward, Kupchak responded, “No one is untradable when their record is comparable to ours.”
Both LaMelo Ball, who agreed to a maximum contract worth $260 million for five years last offseason, and Brandon Miller, the number 2 overall pick in the previous draft, will continue to stay with the team. They are considered franchise building blocks by Kupchak.
He further stated that the team might be interested in retaining a small number of players but declined to specify which ones. The team extended P.J. Washington to a four-year, $46.5 million deal during the previous offseason.
Kupchak refrained from equating the Rozier trade with a “rebuild,” a term that general managers typically abstain from using due to its ominous implications.
“A rebuild occurs when a group of veteran players and a dormant team decide to start over and discard their entire roster.
“However, that is not the case at this time,” Kupchak stated. “So I don’t know what a term means, but I would never use the phrase rebuild.”
Following weeks of conjecture, Terry Rozier has now joined the Miami Heat as an official member.
The Charlotte Hornets reached an agreement on Tuesday morning to trade the 29-year-old guard for Kyle Lowry and a protected first-round pick in 2027 to transfer him to Miami.
Hornets General Manager and President for Basketball Operations, Mitch Kupchak, stated the transition just now.
In addition, his dedication to giving back established him as a pillar of the Charlotte community. He has our sincerest best wishes for the future.
Kupchak stated, “I want to express my gratitude to Terry for every effort he has made since he arrived in Charlotte.”
“He was a consummate competitor and true professional on the court; he served as an inspiration to our young players.”
“The acquisition of a potential first-round pick strengthens our position to construct a young core of skilled players upon which we can build long-term, sustainable success.”
The inclusion of this future selection and the supplementary financial flexibility resulting from this trade are expected to benefit the ongoing process of team development.
“Our primary objective now that Kemba is no longer with us is to position ourselves for long-term, sustainable success,” Kupchak explained in the interview. “
“For obvious reasons, we are commencing this season with an entirely novel strategy than we did in the previous two seasons.”