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According to Marc Stein of the New York Times, the Charlotte Hornets have officially offered the General Manager job to Mitch Kupchak.
The Charlotte @hornets have formally offered their GM post to Mitch Kupchak and are confident they can soon seal a deal with the longtime former Lakers executive, according to league sources.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 2, 2018
Kupchak is best known for his time and mixed back of results as General Manager of the Los Angeles Lakers. The team won four titles during his tenure, the last of which came at the conclusion of the 2009-2010 season and was the second of back to back championship seasons.
Kupchak was eventually fired during the 2016-2017 season. The Lakers finished that season 26-56, their fourth consecutive season with fewer than 30 wins.
Some notable moves made by Mitch Kupchak (via Basketball Reference:
- 2004: Traded Shaquille O’Neal for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Cook, a 2006 1st, and a 2007 2nd
- 2008: Traded Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Marc Gasol, Aaron McKie, a 2008 1st round draft pick and a 2010 1st round draft pick to the Memphis Grizzlies for Pau Gasol and a 2010 2nd round draft pick.
- 2012: Traded a 2013 1st round draft pick, a 2013 2nd round draft pick , a 2014 2nd round draft pick and a 2018 1st round draft pick to the Phoenix Suns for Steve Nash.
- 2012: The Dwight Howard trade that is too long to post. You can see it here.
- 2016: Signed Luol Deng to a 4 year, $72 million contract and Timofey Mozgov to a 4 year, $64 million contract
Kupchak had his hand in the creation of consistent championship-contending teams. He also displayed a willingness to mortgage the future to win in the present, particularly through the acquisition of aging veterans. It’ll be interesting to see what he decides to do with an underpeforming Hornets roster that’s already on the brink of the luxury tax.