CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The whereabouts of the Charlotte Hornets general manager on Friday afternoon perfectly underscored the franchise’s current situation after the NBA trade deadline passed 24 hours earlier.
Mitch Kupchak found himself in a foreign country, all to ensure he gets an up-close look at some premium talent. Although evidence suggested he was abroad scouting Victor Wembanyama — the wunderkind expected to be selected No. 1 overall in the draft in June — in game action, Kupchak wouldn’t confirm the suspicion.
“No, I can’t say that, but can say I’m in Paris,” Kupchak said. “And just so you know, I’m not looking at beautiful Paris. I’m in the Sheraton at the airport looking at an Air France plane on a runway (from) my hotel room.”
