Charlotte Hornets

The Brooklyn Nets seem likely to have a dramatically different look next season, with Kevin Durant requesting a trade on Thursday and Kyrie Irving—who already was seeking sign-and-trade scenarios before ultimately exercising his player option—likely to follow him out the door.

One team that has been regularly linked to Irving is the Los Angeles Lakers, but they likely would need to get a third team involved to absorb Russell Westbrook's huge contract in any potential deal.

Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News noted the Charlotte Hornets could be one team that got involved in any talks though added that the Nets reportedly wouldn't be interested in receiving Gordon Hayward:

What the Lakers are able to fetch for Westbrook would ultimately be re-routed to Brooklyn in exchange for Irving. The Nets might be willing to accept a deal that includes a combination of sharpshooting point guard Terry Rozier, versatile wing Kelly Oubre Jr., former first-round pick P.J. Washington and draft compensation. The Nets are unlikely to accept Gordon Hayward back in an Irving deal, according to a league source, as Hayward is due in excess of $60M over the next two seasons and has had a number of injuries that have kept him off the floor the past two seasons.

The Nets find themselves in a tough spot with Irving. If the veteran point guard makes it known that he plans to sign with the Lakers next summer in free agency, teams around the league aren't going to be inclined to give up much for a one-year rental.

More than fair to say that there's a lot of Kyrie Irving-Lakers chatter happening out there. Could come down to how/if the Lakers are willing to use tradable picks in 2027 and 2029.

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) June 30, 2022

The Lakers, in turn, have basically two options for acquiring Irvin: Get rid of Westbrook or give up Anthony Davis.

The latter is nonsensical, so if the Lakers want Irving, they'll need to find a third or fourth team to take on Westbrook's huge contract. That alone is going to cost them draft capital to get a team to take on that deal, more than likely, while finding a team that has pieces that the Nets will be interested in.

So it's going to be a complicated situation, although the alternative for the Nets is Irving existing in limbo for a year before Brooklyn likely loses him without getting anything in return.

As for the Hornets, it's curious why they would want to take on a ball-dominant point guard like Westbrook when they already have a young star in LaMelo Ball at the position. Taking the rock out of Ball's hands seems like a very poor idea.

Hayward, 32, would be the logical piece to move in the potential trade, given his $30 million cap hit next season. But injuries have majorly limited Hayward in recent years, and he averaged just 15.9 points in 49 games last season and has only exceeded 20 points per game in a season once in his career despite his lucrative contract.

So it isn't shocking that the Nets reportedly aren't interested in bringing him back in an Irving deal, especially with Gordon under contract through the 2023-24 campaign.

But it is going to take a third team for the Lakers to end up with Irving this season. It's going to be one wild July in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant reportedly requested a trade from the franchise on Thursday, and many teams around the NBA are expected to pursue the two-time NBA champion.

One of those teams could be the Hornets as it appears LaMelo Ball would like to team up with Durant in Charlotte. The rising star posted a picture of himself and the Nets veteran to his Instagram story on Thursday:

LaMelo Ball on IG 👀 pic.twitter.com/OLHeESWmrt

— Dylan Jackson (@djdotpng) June 30, 2022

It's unclear if Durant would be open to joining the Hornets. His preferred destinations are the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

However, Wojnarowski added that the Nets are going to accept the best possible deal for Durant. So, if the Hornets can put together an enticing enough package, he could be playing alongside Ball next season.

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges was arrested Wednesday in Los Angeles for felony domestic violence, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.

The Hornets also released a statement regarding the news on Thursday:

The Charlotte Hornets released the following statement regarding Miles Bridges. pic.twitter.com/D0qBzVKQQ3

— Charlotte Hornets PR (@HornetsPR) June 30, 2022

TMZ first reported Bridges' arrest late Wednesday evening.

A woman "required medical attention" after an argument with Bridges "turned physical" on Tuesday, law enforcement sources told TMZ. According to TMZ, when police arrived at the scene, the Hornets veteran was no longer there.

TMZ reported that the 24-year-old turned himself in to police and has since been released on $130,000 bail.

Bridges has spent the first four years of his career with the Hornets after being selected 12th overall in the 2018 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, who traded his draft rights to Charlotte.

The Michigan State product had a breakout 2021-22 campaign, averaging 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 80 games while shooting 49.1 percent from the floor and 33.1 percent from deep.

The Hornets extended a qualifying offer to Bridges on Wednesday, making him a restricted free agent this summer. ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported earlier this week that Charlotte wouldn't offer him a max deal, and he would look to see if he could get a max contract elsewhere when free agency opened Thursday.

Bridges previously turned down a four-year, $60 million extension offer from the Hornets last offseason.

The Charlotte Hornets have hired Steve Clifford as their head coach after their deal with Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson fell through, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

This marks Clifford's second stint with the Hornets after he previously coached the franchise from 2013-14 to 2017-18.

Atkinson, who was offered the Charlotte job during the 2022 NBA Finals, decided not to take the gig because "further conversations led [him] to believe it would be best to remain with the Warriors," according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The 55-year-old joined the Warriors in 2021 as an assistant after spending the 2020-21 season as an assistant for the Los Angeles Clippers. He last served as a head coach for the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-17 to 2019-20, going 118-190 in that span.

As for Clifford, he most recently served as head coach of the Orlando Magic from 2018-19 to 2020-21. In his three seasons at the helm, he led the Magic to a 96-131 record and two playoff appearances.

During his first stint with the franchise, which lasted five seasons, he went 196-214 and led the team to two playoff appearances.

In addition, the 60-year-old has served as an assistant for the Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets.

The Hornets finished the 2021-22 season with the eighth-best offense, per NBA.com, though Clifford should be able to help the team improve its defense, which was among the bottom 10 last season.

Clifford will replace James Borrego, who was fired by the Hornets in April after just four seasons. The 44-year-old went 138-163 in his tenure and failed to lead the team to the postseason.

The Hornets haven't made the playoffs since 2015-16 and haven't made it past the first round since 2001-02. The franchise has also never made it past the conference semifinals.

Nebraska guard Bryce McGowens, who averaged 16.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in his lone season in Lincoln, has gone No. 40 overall in the 2022 NBA draft to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.

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Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: Bryce McGowens

Position: SG/SF

Height: 6'5"

Pro Comparison: Jaylen Nowell

Scouting Report: McGowens popped during a losing season at Nebraska with 6'5" guard size and three-level scoring. He was more effective getting to the rim and drawing fouls, though high school tape and the eye test suggest he's a better shooter than the numbers say.

Hornets Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

Mark Williams, C: Rookie scale contract

Bryce McGowens, SG/SF

Gordon Hayward, SF: $30M (2024)

Terry Rozier, PG: $24.1M (2026)

Kelly Oubre, SF: $12.3M (2023)

LaMelo Ball, PG: $8.9M (2024)

Mason Plumlee, C: $8.2M (2023)

James Bouknight, SG: $4.8M (2025)

Kai Jones, PF: $3.4M (2025)

P.J. Washington, PF: $3.0M (2023)

JT Thor, PF: $1.67M (2025)

Jalen McDaniels, PF: $1.5M (2023, Team Option)

Nick Richards, C: $1.4M (2023)

Free Agents

Montrezl Harrell, PF: UFA

Miles Bridges, SF: RFA

Cody Martin, SF: RFA

Isaiah Thomas, PG: UFA

Scottie Lewis, SG: RFA

Arnoldas Kulboka, SF: RFA

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Notes

McGowens, a 5-star prospect out of Legacy Early College High School (South Carolina), chose to attend Nebraska over Georgia. He joined his older brother, Trey, who transferred from Pitt in 2020.

He was ranked No. 29 on 247Sports' composite list of high school men's basketball players in the 2021 class.

Nebraska struggled despite McGowens' good year, going 10-22 overall and finishing last in the Big Ten. However, McGowens certainly had his fair share of individual success in Lincoln, notably dropping 26 points in a 78-70 upset win over Ohio State on March 1. He also tied a career-high of 29 points against Rutgers on Jan. 29 in a 63-61 loss.

McGowens is an intriguing prospect at the next level. He clearly had no trouble scoring in the tough Big Ten, eventually finishing the year on the conference's All-Freshman team. His size and length can translate to the next level.

It might be asking too much of the 19-year-old to contribute right away, as he needs to work on his three-point shot (27.4 percent). However, the potential is there for McGowens to carve out a long and successful NBA career.

Now McGowens' professional stint is set to start in Charlotte as he looks to get off on the right foot in the NBA.

After being spurned by Kenny Atkinson, the Charlotte Hornets are back to work trying to find a new head coach.

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Hornets governor Michael Jordan will meet with Mike D'Antoni on Tuesday about the team's head-coaching vacancy.

Wojnarowski reported Saturday that Atkinson, who previously agreed to a four-year deal with the Hornets but didn't sign a contract, informed the Hornets he would remain as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors.

Atkinson is going to be the lead assistant on Steve Kerr's staff with Mike Brown taking over as head coach of the Sacramento Kings.

D'Antoni spent last season working as an adviser with the New Orleans Pelicans. He last coached as an assistant on Steve Nash's staff with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2020-21 season.

The Hornets fired James Borrego on April 22 after he spent four seasons as head coach. He went 138-163 with no playoff appearances in Charlotte. The 2021-22 campaign was his most successful season with the club (43-39), but the team lost to the Atlanta Hawks in the play-in tournament.

Despite not making the playoffs since 2015-16, the Hornets are a franchise on the rise. LaMelo Ball has established himself as one of the NBA's most exciting young players through his first two seasons.

Charlotte's offense took a huge leap forward from Ball's rookie campaign. It finished 22nd in offensive rating (110.9 points per 100 possessions) in 2020-21 and ninth in 2021-22 (114.1), per Basketball Reference.

D'Antoni is best known for his four-season stint as head coach of the Houston Rockets from 2016 to '20. The team finished first or second in offensive rating in each of his first three seasons. He went 217-101 with four playoff appearances in Houston.

Kenny Atkinson won't be heading to Charlotte after all.

The Golden State Warriors' top assistant will remain with the team and won't become the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets after reportedly agreeing to a four-year deal to take that position, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Per Woj: "After being offered [the] job during the NBA Finals, further conversations led Atkinson to believe it would be best to remain with Warriors."

Before Atkinson was offered the gig, Mike D'Antoni and Terry Stotts had been the other finalists for the job, according to Woj.

Regardless of who #Hornets bring in now — D’Antoni or otherwise — what a strange situation to walk in to.

— Nick Carboni (@NickCarboniWCNC) June 18, 2022

This man really won a championship and said “nahhhhh, I can’t do that whole Hornets thing” lol.

— Jay King (@ByJayKing) June 18, 2022

This is so embarrassing for the Hornets. So embarrassing

— Jason Huber (@_JasonHuber) June 18, 2022

Being around Kenny Atkinson at one of the Warriors’ NBA Finals practices, he referred to coaching with Steve Kerr and living in the Bay Area as “paradise.”

This obviously is a huge turn of events for the Warriors and Hornets, but Atkinson clearly couldn’t be happier where he is https://t.co/zhD8XSk0WF

— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) June 18, 2022

Atkinson, 55, served as an assistant for head coach Steve Kerr this past season after being an assistant on the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2020-21 season.

He was the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets for four seasons before that, going just 118-190 but helping rebuild the Nets and develop young talent despite the team being devoid of valuable draft capital given away in an infamous and lopsided 2013 trade with the Boston Celtics.

That rebuild led to a playoff berth in the 2018-19 season and helped pave the way for an organizational rebirth that led to the signing of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

Prior to Brooklyn, Atkinson served as an assistant for the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks.

His background as a rebuilder made him a natural fit for a Hornets team building around young star LaMelo Ball and a nice supporting cast. That group went 43-39 and reached the play-in tournament, though they couldn't earn a playoff spot.

Despite a third straight season of improvement, the Hornets chose to fire James Borrego, and it appeared they had their replacement in Atkinson.

Now, it's back to the drawing board in the coaching search.

Golden State Warriors big man Kevon Looney, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent, is in for a big payday after helping the franchise win its fourth NBA championship in the last eight seasons, and it appears a number of teams are interested in his services.

The Charlotte Hornets and Sacramento Kings are interested in signing Looney this summer, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

"After playing a pivotal role in Golden State’s championship success, Kevon Looney’s forthcoming free agency will be monitored more closely than anyone might have imagined a month ago. Charlotte and Sacramento, soon to be coached by Golden State assistant Mike Brown, are among the teams said to be interested in signing Looney away from the Warriors, who spent nearly $350 million this season on salary and luxury tax for their championship roster."

Looney had a solid 2021-22 season for the Warriors. He appeared in all 82 regular-season games, making 80 starts, and averaged 6.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 57.1 percent from the floor.

The 26-year-old was just as good in the playoffs, appearing in all 22 games and making 13 starts, averaging 5.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 65.9 percent from the floor.

Looney is coming off a three-year, $14.5 million deal with Golden State, who selected him in the first round of the 2015 draft. He should receive a nice raise ahead of the 2022-23 campaign, but obviously the Dubs are going to face some hefty competition for his services.

Charlotte's interest in Looney comes as little surprise as it could use a solid interior presence to complement LaMelo Ball and the team's other shooters. In addition, the Hornets need a player who can help on the glass.

Mason Plumlee still has one year remaining on his contract, but Looney would be a solid depth addition for the franchise with Montrezl Harrell set to become a free agent.

As for the Kings, they don't necessarily have a huge need for Looney with both Domantas Sabonis and Richaun Holmes on the roster. However, he would undoubtedly strengthen the team's play on the boards.

That said, Looney has won three titles with the Warriors, so it would be no surprise to see him re-sign with the Dubs this summer and help the team contend for another championship in 2022-23 and beyond.

Charlotte Hornets center Montrezl Harrell was arrested May 12 in Kentucky and has been charged with a felony charge of trafficking less than five pounds of marijuana after police allegedly found three pounds of marijuana in his vehicle during a traffic stop, per Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer.

Per Kentucky law, Harrell is facing one to five years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine if convicted.

Per that report, Harrell was pulled over after allegedly driving too closely behind another vehicle. Trooper Jesse Owens wrote in his report that he "observed odor of marijuana" after stopping Harrell and that the Hornets center "admitted to being in possession of marijuana and produced a small amount from his sweatpants."

Harrell's vehicle was then searched, with Owens writing that "three pounds of marijuana in vacuum-sealed bags" were found.

Harrell said the car was rented.

The 28-year-old was traded to the Hornets in February, with Charlotte sending Ish Smith and Vernon Carey to the Washington Wizards in exchange for the veteran center. He appeared in 25 games for Charlotte this past season off the bench, averaging 11.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 21 minutes per game.

Harrell has also played for the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers in his seven-year career.

He's set to be a free agent when the new NBA league year begins on July 1.

The Charlotte Hornets have agreed to a four-year deal with Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson to be their new head coach, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium first reported the sides were nearing an agreement.

Atkinson met with Charlotte Hornets officials — including owner Michael Jordan — on Wednesday and the franchise has decided on the former Nets coach as its new head coach, sources said. Atkinson brings development and defensive structure to a young and talented roster. https://t.co/MqlwGJxzz9

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 10, 2022

The Athletic's Charania and Sam Amick reported on June 3 that Atkinson had "emerged as a front-runner" for the position and had a scheduled meeting with team officials, including chairman Michael Jordan.

Atkinson would replace James Borrego, who was fired after four seasons in April after coaching the team to a 138-163 record in his tenure.

Atkinson spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach under Steve Kerr with the Warriors. He's best-known for spearheading the Brooklyn Nets' rebuild, taking the team to the playoffs in his third season as head coach in 2018-19. Atkinson and the Nets mutually agreed to part ways a little over midway through the following season, and he has a career 118-190 record as a head coach.

The Hornets went 43-39 in 2021-22. It was the second straight 10-win improvement from the previous season after the team went 33-39 in 2020-21 and 23-42 in 2019-20. But Charlotte lost its first play-in tournament game as the No. 10 seed for the second year in a row, continuing its playoff drought for the sixth consecutive season.

Atkinson is inheriting a talented young roster that is highlighted by point guard LaMelo Ball.

The 20-year-old was named to his first All-Star Game in 2021-22 as an injury replacement. He averaged 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.6 assists, the latter of which ranked ninth in the NBA. The Hornets offense ranked fourth in the NBA in the regular season with 115.3 points per game.

Charlotte will also have a chance to add another talented player in the NBA draft on June 23, picking near the end of the lottery with the No. 13 selection.

With Atkinson now at the helm, the Hornets will continue chasing the success that has eluded the franchise for years.