Earlier today, it was confirmed that Charlotte Hornets head coach, James Borrego, was fired after 4 seasons with the team. Borrego had signed a 4 year deal with the Hornets, this season being the final year on his deal.
Borrego came to Charlotte in the middle of what was a beginning of a rebuilding process in 2018-19, Kemba Walker’s final season with the team. For the 2019-20 season, the Hornets were preseason favorites to be the worst team in the NBA, as Terry Rozier and Miles Bridges were considered to be the only bright spots on their team. However, possibly due to Borrego’s coaching, Devote Graham developed and the Hornets were the 9th seed in the Eastern Conference and just 6 games behind the Magic for the 8th seed and a spot in the playoffs.
2020-21 was the start of a new era for the Hornets, once they drafted LaMelo Ball #3 overall after a very lucky lottery. The Hornets were the 10th seed in the East in 2021, good enough for the final play-in tournament spot. However, the Hornets got blown out in the play-in tournament to the Pacers. The same thing also happened this season, but instead of getting blown out to the Pacers, they got blown out to the Hawks as the 10th seed.
So, after an 138-163 (45.8%) record with the team—including a -56 point differential in their last 2 play-in games—was good enough for Charlotte to say goodbye to Borrego.
Borrego, 44, will possibly apply for some head coaching jobs in Portland, Los Angeles, Utah, etc. if those spots are open, or maybe look to be an assistant like former division rival Scott Brooks did with the Portland Trail Blazers this season.
For the Hornets, maybe they will look to hire Frank Vogel, Doc Rivers, Quinn Snyder, etc. if they are available in the coaching market. However, with a young core of Ball, Bridges, PJ Washington, James Bouknight, Terry Rozier and an upcoming 2022 1st round pick, the right coach could put the Hornets in a good position to succeed in the near future!
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