The Charlotte Hornets have been granted permission to interview to interview a few candidates to fill in their vacant general manager position, after former GM Rich Cho was relieved of his duties upon an underwhelming season, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Hornets were recently allowed to start conversations with Philadelphia 76ers vice president of player personnel Marc Eversley, Houston Rockets executive vice president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas, and Miami Heat assistant general manager Adam Simon.

Former Los Angeles Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak remains the lone frontrunner for the job, but the Hornets are being diligent in their search plan to start an initial round of conversations with candidates as soon as this week, per Wojnarowski.

Kupchak was the first name on the list as a potential replacement for Cho once news broke out of the end of his stint with the organization. Kupchak has had a long-standing relationship with team owner Michael Jordan, sharing University of North Carolina ties.

The former Lakers shot-caller would partner up with Jordan's college roommate, now assistant GM Buzz Peterson, who is running interim for the time being until a replacement is found.

Kupchak won two NBA championships in 2009 and 2010 general manager of the Lakers, but was dismissed last season, as controlling-owner Jeanie Buss made his brother Jim pay the promise he once made to shift the course the team has been on for the last few years. He was replaced by current general manager Rob Pelinka, after Magic Johnson took charge as president of basketball operations.