Kupchak’s new job: f ix Hornets
Michael Jordan puts former Lakers GM in charge of turning around his Charlotte franchise.
Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan turned to a fellow former North Carolina Tar Heel with a strong NBA track record to fix his struggling franchise.
Charlotte hired Mitch Kupchak as president of basketball operations and general manager Sunday, giving him full control of day-to-day operations. Jordan called the former Lakers general manager a “proven winner” in a statement.
As a player and executive, Kupchak has been a part of 10 NBA championship teams. He won nine with the Lakers — seven as an executive.
Kupchak, 63, began working in the Lakers’ front office in 1986 under Hall of Famers Jerry West and Bill Sharman, who was the first person to win a championship as a player, coach and executive. Kupchak took over as general manager in 2000, and the Lakers won four titles and six Western Conference championships during his 17-year run, posting a 747-607 regular-season record and winning 63% (111-66) of their playoff games.
He was responsible for the day-to-day management, including personnel decisions, contract negotiations, salary-cap strategy and scouting collegiate and international players. He was fired in 2017 as the Lakers were mired in the four worst seasons in franchise history.
Kupchak replaces Rich Cho, who was fired earlier this season. Charlotte has failed to make the playoffs in three of its last four seasons.
One of Kupchak’s first decisions will be whether to bring back coach Steve Clifford, whose contract expires after the 2018-19 season. Kupchak inherits a roster that includes two-time All-Star point guard Kemba Walker and aging center Dwight Howard, but not much else.
Carli Lloyd became the sixth American to score 100 international goals, putting the U.S. women’s national team ahead as it rallied for a 6-2 win over Mexico in an exhibition at Houston.
Former NFL linebacker Aldon Smith is being held on $500,000 bail by the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department for violating conditions of his bail. He was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence last month . ... The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with defensive lineman Bennie Logan.
Ryan Harrison wrapped up the United States’ 4-0 victory over Belgium in the Davis Cup, beating Ruben Bemelmans 6-3, 6-4, with the U.S. already having clinched a semifinal berth against Croatia on Sept. 14-16. France and Spain also advanced to the semifinals . ... Kiki Bertens beat American Madison Keys 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 and then overpowered Julia Goerges, 6-2, 6-1, to win the Volvo Car Open in Charleston, S.C. Both Bertens and Goerges had to play twice after rain washed out most of Saturday’s semifinals . ... Garbine Muguruza won the Abierto GNP Seguros in Mexico for her fourth title of the year, beating Timea Babos 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
World champions Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Snyder went 4-0 this weekend as the United States won wrestling’s World Cup for the first time in 15 years, beating Azerbaijan in the final in Iowa City, Iowa.
Jarrett Hurd scored a 12th-round knockdown and a split-decision victory over Erislandy Lara to unify the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Assn. junior middleweight world titles Saturday night in Las Vegas. Lara was the longest reigning champion at 154 pounds.