Things were already in motion.
An agreement was in place and Kenny Atkinson had an unsigned contract in hand. Calls were being made so the rest of the coaching staff could be formed. Finally, after eight long weeks, the Charlotte Hornets appeared on track to get their feet together just in time for the true start of the NBA’s offseason in a few days.
Instead, barring them essentially making a dramatic last-second fullcourt heave, the Hornets will not have a head coach in place when the NBA draft tips off in New York on Thursday. They are in a spot no one saw coming after Atkinson’s abrupt about-face Saturday.
