The Charlotte Hornets' firing of head coach Steve Clifford was reportedly a premeditated one, having started background checks on former Memphis Grizzlies head coach and Miami Heat assistant David Fizdale before announcing Clifford's dismissal, according to Mitch Lawrence of Forbes.com.
Fizdale appears to be the leading candidate for the job under the new front office of North Carolina alumni in president Mitch Kupchak, assistant Buzz Peterson, and majority owner Michael Jordan.
The 43-year-old is bound to be one of the best-touted candidates for any NBA coaching job and is expected to get several teams reaching out to him, interested in his services.
The revamped front office is bound to make aggressive moves this offseason and it will start with the man at the helm, who they'd hope to get before the NBA Draft Lottery takes place, to gauge a sense of direction, and assign the scouting methods moving forward.
The focus will then move to their next priority, likely looking for ways to keep All-Star point guard Kemba Walker and move some of the hefty contracts sitting in this roster, which hasn't developed as hoped during Clifford's five-year tenure with the team, with only a 196-214 record and two quick playoff exits to show for.
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