With the season the Celtics are having and the talent on their coaching staff, it won’t be a surprise to see their assistant coaches considered for head coaching gigs this offseason.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Charlotte Hornets will be looking for a new head coach this offseason, as Steve Clifford plans to step down and transition to the front office in an advisory role, and to no surprise, a Celtic assistant was mentioned as a potential candidate.
According to Wojnarowski, Joe Mazzulla’s top assistant, Charles Lee, is expected to be considered for the gig. Other candidates include Kings assistant Jordi Fernandez, Heat assistant Chris Quinn, Suns assistant Kevin Young and others.
Lee, 38, joined Mazzulla’s staff in June after serving as Mike Budenholzer’s right-hand man since 2018. He notably won a championship with the Bucks in 2021. Over the offseason, he interviewed for multiple head coaching vacancies, including those with the Pistons, Raptors, Suns, and Bucks. However, after Budenholzer’s departure, the Bucks ultimately went with Adrian Griffin.
“He’s been great for us,” Derrick White said on Lee at shootaround Wednesday afternoon. “He comes in with great energy each and every day. Great attitude and just a great knowledge of the game. We’re lucky to have him. I’ve learned a lot from him throughout this whole season. Just a great basketball.”
“His leadership has been great,” Al Horford added. “He’s just a guy that cares about winning and transmits that to the team. He’s been a big part of what we’ve done here. It’s no secret he’s one of those guys that it’s just a matter of time until he’s in a position to get a head coaching job.”
“He’s brought a lot to our group — a lot of experience — and gives us a lot of confidence.”
Given Lee’s experience and the success of the teams he’s been a part of, Charlotte is likely not his only option this season. Additionally, Sam Cassell and Tony Dobbins will likely draw some interest from other teams.
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