NBA Rumors: Hornets Exec Search Includes Nets' Peterson, Pelicans' Langdon, More

The Charlotte Hornets are reportedly interested in multiple candidates as they search for a replacement for veteran executive Mitch Kupchak.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Jeff Peterson of the Brooklyn Nets, Trajan Langdon of the New Orleans Pelicans and Matt Lloyd of the Minnesota Timberwolves are "prime names to watch as the Hornets close in on a new lead executive to run their front office."

He also listed Austin Ainge of the Boston Celtics as a candidate.

Stein noted the Nets are interested in keeping Peterson and may offer him a new title and raise to be the top aide to general manager Sean Marks. It is an important time for Brooklyn, as it fired head coach Jacque Vaughn and will need to hire a new candidate as it attempts to build a contender for the foreseeable future.

Yet there is a connection in place for Charlotte, as Peterson was with the Atlanta Hawks at the same time as one of the Hornets' new co-governors, Rick Schnall.

He worked his way through various jobs with the Hawks from 2013 to 2019 as a scout, basketball operations coordinator, director of scouting and assistant general manager. He is currently the assistant general manager for the Nets.

Elsewhere, Langdon has been the general manager of the Pelicans since 2019 and also played three seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Lloyd is the senior vice president for the Timberwolves and also held previous positions with the Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls, while Ainge is the assistant general manager for the Celtics.

Ainge is the son of former Celtics player and current Utah Jazz executive Danny Ainge.

Whoever takes over the Hornets job will be facing a significant rebuilding job.

They are 15-43 on the season and haven't made the playoffs since the 2015-16 campaign. Their last playoff series victory came in 2002 when the franchise was the previous edition of the Hornets before they became the Charlotte Bobcats for 10 seasons.

LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller offer some promising building blocks on the roster, but the Hornets are a step behind the majority of the league and will need to add plenty of additional talent to become a true threat in the Eastern Conference down the line.