The winds of change are raging across the Tar Heel State, with the Charlotte Hornets on their way towards an eighth straight season on the outside looking in at the NBA’s postseason. At 13-41 and 10.5 games out of the 10th and final spot in the NBA’s playoff or play-in bracket, the Hornets have officially turned their collective eyes towards the future — with longtime GM Mitch Kupchak stepping into an advisor role after six seasons with the franchise.
The longtime Lakers and Hornets executive oversaw the construction of Charlotte’s roster, which has gone on to have more losing seasons (five) than playoff wins (zero) in Kupchak’s six-year tenure with the team.
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Keep checking NCWager.com for the latest odds and analysis on who will replace Mitch Kupchak as the next Hornets GM. We’ll also have exclusive BetMGM North Carolina bonus code offers and promos ahead of the March 11 launch of mobile sports betting across the state.
Hornets Trade Key Players at NBA Deadline
However, on the eve of expanded North Carolina sports betting, all is not doom-and-gloom for the Hornets suddenly after the NBA trade deadline. In Kupchak’s final act, the team traded away players like Terry Rozier, P.J. Washington and Gordon Hayward for mostly future draft picks, but also landed veterans in Seth Curry, Grant Williams and Tre Mann.
The immediate result has been a feel-good 3-0 run, without LaMelo Ball, that has helped establish a little more enthusiasm for the Hornets’ future. It may even be slightly too early to give up on the Hornets playoff chances.
But as for the big picture, Hornets owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin this offseason will have their hand at picking the man charged with returning Charlotte to the sport’s biggest stage for the first time since 2016.
Next Charlotte Hornets GM Odds
With all that in mind, BetCarolina.com broke down the odds on which candidate could replace Kupchak in Charlotte, as the Hornets look to start anew in the new year.
Odds provided by BetCarolina.com and not yet available on North Carolina sports betting apps.
While Charlotte’s immediate results after the trade deadline are impressive, with three straight wins over the Memphis Grizzlies, Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks, the proof will be in the proverbial pudding in the new league year.
Rebuild Around LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller
That’s because whichever candidate ultimately replaces Kupchak in Charlotte will likely have a lofty lottery pick to build around in 2024, with the Hornets currently holding the fourth worst win percentage (.241) in the NBA.
That should allow our leading candidates, such as current Brooklyn Nets assistant GM Jeff Peterson (+500), to build a solid roster in the new league year alongside Ball and thriving rookie Brandon Miller.
Other candidates like New Orleans GM Trajan Langdon (+600) and Washington VP Travis Schlenk (+800) are also well positioned to lead the Hornets rebuild.