Steve Clifford

Team, Orlando Magic

Steve Clifford took home the honors of coach of the month for March/April.

Clifford has done an excellent job taking over the Magic this season as they have made the playoffs for the first time since Dwight Howard helped the team make it in 2011. The Magic will most likely lose in the first round to the Raptors but for the first time in eight years, they seem to have a bright future ahead of them.

Source: Josh Robbins on Twitter

Steve Clifford

Team, Orlando Magic

The Magic have hired Mike Batiste and Bruce Kreutzer as assistant coaches for Steve Clifford's coaching staff.

Both Batiste and Kreutzer worked as assistants under Clifford during his time with the Hornets and will join Pat Delany and Steve Hetzel as the third and fourth assistants to make the transition to the Magic with the head coach.

Source: Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel

Steve Clifford

Team, Orlando Magic

Steve Clifford has agreed to a four-year contract to become the head coach of the Orlando Magic.

This comes out of nowhere as the Magic have been very quiet while pursuing the right fit for for their coaching vacancy. The team will hold a news conference today to introduce Clifford, who led the Hornets to a couple playoff appearances before being let go earlier this month. It’s an interesting hire as Clifford has proved that he is an excellent X’s and O’s tactician but he hasn’t shown the ability to develop young players, being traditionally hesitant to give his rookies plenty of minutes.

Source: Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter

Steve Clifford

Team, Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic are interviewing former Hornets coach Steve Clifford this week while also expressing interest in current Michigan State coach Tom Izzo.

Clifford has a history with the Magic as an assistant under Stan Van Gundy from 2007-08 to 2011-12 and went 196-214 as the Hornets/Bobcats coach from 2013-14 to 2017-18. The Magic have also expressed interest in Izzo but have kept their head coaching search rather quiet. The Magic have a few young pieces but also have decisions to make this offseason so it is not surprising to see the Magic make sure they bring in the best person for the job.

Source: Marc Stein on Twitter

Steve Clifford

Team, Charlotte Hornets

The Bucks are interviewing ex-Hornets coach Steve Clifford for their head coaching position on Monday.

Clifford is the latest to be added to a relatively stacked list of candidates that includes Mike Budenholzer, Monty Williams, Becky Hammon and David Blatt, among others. Milwaukee is probably the premier coaching destination this offseason, as nobody else (barring a shocking ouster from a current playoff team) can offer their next head coach the chance to work with a legitimate superstar. The Bucks have come up short over the last two years largely because of poor coaching, so the rest of the East is probably hoping that Milwaukee bungles this hire as well. Judging by the list of candidates, that seems like it'll be tough to do at the moment.

Source: Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter

Steve Clifford

Team, Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets have relieved Steve Clifford of his head coaching duties.

It isn't exactly shocking news coming off of the new GM hire in Mitch Kupchak and Clifford and the Hornets underperforming all season going 36-46 and missing playoffs. Clifford held a 196-214 record over the past five seasons serving as head coach in Charlotte.

Source: Adrian Wognarowski on Twitter

Willy Hernangomez

C, Charlotte Hornets

Willy Hernangomez will start at center for the suspended Dwight Howard on Thursday.

The Hornets finally gave Hernangomez a chance Monday night and he delivered with 17 points in 20 minutes. After just 13 minutes the next game it is encouraging to see coach Steve Clifford go back to him in what should be a great spot. Memphis will have a thin frontcourt which could allow Hernangomez to put up a good game.

Source: Hornets PR on Twitter

Jeremy Lamb

SG/SF, Charlotte Hornets

Jeremy Lamb will attempt to play Thursday night despite being listed as questionable with back spasms.

Lamb was listed as questionable but Hornets coach Steve Clifford said Lamb will attempt to play Thursday night. Lamb did not miss a game with the injury so it is conceivable to say he is healthy enough to play normally. Lamb can be plugged into lineups if you have room as he has produced top-130 value over the past two weeks.

Source: Hornets on Twitter