Report: Miami Heat could be in danger of losing valuable coach to Charlotte Hornets
Miami Heat assistant coach Chris Quinn reportedly could be among the early candidates to become the Charlotte Hornets’ newest head coach once Steve Clifford steps down from his position after the season in order to assume a role in the team’s front office
Before starting his coaching role with the Heat, Quinn previously played for the team during his career as a player. He played for the franchise for the first three seasons of his NBA career in Miami, where he averaged 5.6 points and 2.2 assists per game.
He also had a shooting percentage of 39.7 from 3-point range in a total of 168 regular-season games with the team. Quinn began his coaching journey in the NBA with the Miami Heat during the 2014-15 season, specializing in player development.
He has since grown to become an important assistant to head coach Erik Spoelstra.
In the past, the 40-year-old candidate has been under consideration for various NBA coaching positions.
This was particularly evident when he was connected to the Milwaukee Bucks coaching role after the team decided to dismiss Mike Budenholzer post their defeat to the Heat in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
The Hornets have performed poorly in the current NBA season, holding the No. 13 seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 18-57.
They are ranked below only the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons in the conference standings.
Charlotte is also riding a three-game losing streak and owns a poor record of 2-8 over its last 10 contests.
In Clifford’s most recent game as Charlotte’s head coach, the team lost to the Boston Celtics by 14 points on April 1. The play of Grant Willams — who dropped 23 points, seven rebounds and two assists against his former team — was one of the few bright spots for the Hornets in the loss.
If the Hornets successfully hire Quinn from the Heat, it may be a significant setback for Miami as they strive to win another championship. The team has been unable to secure a title since 2013, when they were led by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.
