Cho had been the singular head of basketball operations for the Hornets since June '14NBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Hornets Vice Chair Curtis Polk said that the goal is for the team to "have a new GM by the end of the season" after declining to offer Rich Cho a new deal, according to Rick Bonnell of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. Polk said that Cho, who was fired yesterday, "wanted to know if he could expect an extension to his contract, which expires after this season." Hornets Owner Michael Jordan and Polk "decided that wouldn't happen, so the team made a clean break from Cho," who worked for the Hornets since '11 and has been the "singular head of basketball operations" since June '14. Hornets Assistant GM Buzz Peterson will "run the front office on an interim basis." But Polk said that Peterson "probably won't be considered" for the permanent GM position. Polk said that he "anticipates four to six candidates receiving interviews." He added that some "attractive candidates might not be available to interview until the franchises they currently work for have completed their seasons." Polk said that the team "doesn't want to deemphasize the progress Cho made in analytics, but also wants strong networking skills around the NBA." Polk added that for now, the intent is for the next GM to "come from outside the organization" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/21). ESPN's Amin Elhassan said the Hornets under Cho "never turned the corner," and despite his solid reputation around the league, the "hardest part is getting stars in the door and he wasn't able to do that."But ESPN's Rachel Nichols wondered if it was Cho's "fault he's not getting stars" to sign "or is it because it's Charlotte?" Elhassan: "After seven years, you need another plan, you need someone else" ("The Jump," ESPN, 2/20).
POSSIBLE CANDIDATES: In Charlotte, Scott Fowler reports former Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak is a "leading candidate" for the Hornets' GM job. He is "going to get an interview soon." The job would "most likely be his if he wants it." Kupchak "represents the sort of GM this team needs -- a strong personality who is well-respected throughout the league and who has enough clout that, when needed, he can tell everyone else to butt out and let him do his job." Cho just "wasn't that guy" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/21). CBSSN's Evan Cohen said Kupchak is "known most recently for handing out two of the worst contracts in the league" towards the end of his Lakers tenure. But he added "let's also remember that he was the GM of five championship teams" ("Time to Schein," CBSSN, 2/20). ESPN.com's Adrian Wojnarowski cited sources as saying that "internal discussion on another possible candidate" for GM includes Rockets Exec VP/Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas. Sources added that the Hornets have had "no contact with Kupchak on a possible position" (ESPN.com, 2/20).
