The Charlotte Hornets will pick up the 2017-18 option in the contract of general manager Rich Cho, granting him another year to continue building the team towards contention, according to a report from ESPN.com.
Cho is credited with constructing a Hornets team that reached the first round of the Playoffs last season before succumbing to a veteran Miami Heat squad in seven games. The Hornets begun spiraling in a downwards direction following their elimination, however.
Charlotte lost guards Jeremy Lin and Courtney Lee in free agency to the Nets and Knicks, along with fan favorite Al Jefferson to the Pacers. The Hornets’ 2016-17 season has been disappointing, as the team never truly bounced back from their vital free-agent departures and massive string of injuries.
They were eliminated from playoff contention last week.
Rich Cho was hired by the Hornets in the summer of 2011, after serving less than one year as the Portland Trail Blazers’ general manager. He was also an assistant GM with the Seattle SuperSonics — later changed to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Cho made two trades this season, sending Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes to Milwaukee for Miles Plumlee, along with acquiring cash for the contract of Chris “Birdman” Andersen from Cleveland.
