Upon assuming the role of Charlotte Hornets’ coach last season, Steve Clifford inherited a team that had already encountered challenges in its rebuilding journey.
None of the draft picks from 2021, including first-round selections Kai Jones and James Bouknight, have yet to meet expectations. This predicament poses a significant challenge for the franchise, as it lacks the allure to attract top free-agent talent.
“I remember we used to say all the time, ‘It gets late early in the NBA,’” Clifford said. “You bring a guy in who had been in college four years and he doesn’t play well in his first year, those guys would be gone.
“But you’re crazy to do that now because the guys are so young. Everything used to be, you drafted in performance. Now, you’re drafting by potential and it’s much, much harder. Younger players are not as ready to play, and it makes it harder on coaches, but it makes it much, much harder on management.”
Southeast Notes: Clifford, Windler, Houstan, Bagley, Vukcevic https://t.co/Bv8GhWHd7r pic.twitter.com/G5CKqPyKfV
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) March 24, 2024
