First win of Jeff Peterson era just the start. ‘He’s going to be one of the best in this league’

Stuck in no man’s land and wallowing in a virtual quagmire, the Charlotte Hornets are in a tricky and unenviable situation

Injuries are still piling up, causing seemingly daily roster shuffling and more questions than usual this time of year, even for the Hornets. They were missing six rotation players in Saturday night’s 110-99 victory over Brooklyn at Spectrum Center, with Tre Mann and Bryce McGowens the latest additions to a lengthy list that includes LaMelo Ball, Mark Williams, Seth Curry and Cody Martin.

Such is life these days for the Hornets.

“One of our players just came in and was just saying it’s a lot harder without Cody and Seth,” coach Steve Clifford said. “I don’t think you always realize that at both ends of the floor, (they are) two really good players who are veterans and know how to play. His point was it’s just a lot harder at both ends of the floor. My point to him was that’s what this time of the year is about. We’re not playing meaningful games because we’re not going to be in the playoffs or the play in, but the games are still meaningful because we have to learn from that.

“We’re a lot different team without those two guys, but it gives opportunity for others. We’ll have different playing groups, and you don’t know in the future, something could happen tonight or this week that will help us in other years. I think that’s the way to look at it.”

There’s not much of a choice and that’s one of the many tasks the Hornets’ new chief decision maker is going to have to figure out over the coming days and weeks. Jeff Peterson, officially hired on Tuesday, has already been a busy man and a fixture around the Hornets, attending all three of the team’s games since his arrival.

He also identified the person who’ll be his deputy in a sense, electing to bring in Atlanta Hawks vice president of player personnel Dotun Akinwale as the the Hornets’ assistant general manager — a role held by Buzz Peterson under Mitch Kupchak until these recent front changes following the NBA trade deadline last month. Monday is Akinwale’s last day with the Hawks and he should be with his new organization soon thereafter.

“They have the chance to flip the script here,” one NBA executive in attendance for the Hornets’ matchup with the Nets told the Observer.

Jeff Peterson is already winning over people within the organization.

“Yeah, he’s engaged,” Miles Bridges said. “He’s coming to every practice, every game. And just to have a GM who cares and shows up all the time means a lot.”

It’s probably fitting that Peterson’s first victory as a member of the Hornets came against his old team, the very one that employed him since 2019. He sat next to Ryan Gisriel, Brooklyn’s executive director of basketball operations, during the game, likely reminiscing about their years together in the Nets’ front office.

Just about everyone associated with the Nets is pleased for Peterson and that also goes for someone who’s been around him in more than one locale.

“It’s incredible, you see all the hard work people put in 10 years ago,” said Brooklyn guard Dennis Schröder, who was introduced to Peterson during their days together with Atlanta. “He was an intern for an NBA club and now he’s a president and GM of a club. So, working hard, being a great guy, great human being, always makes sure you network and be nice to people. And I think that’s what got him to this point, being such a long-term great assistant GM.

“But now I think he’s going to be one of the best in this league because he’s just a great human being, making sure everybody is good. He’s honest, which is really important at this job, and I think he’s going to be great.”

Schröder beamed as he flashed back on Peterson’s trail, recalling something that made him immediately realize how genuine the rising executive is. Peterson traveled to Europe twice from 2014-16 when Schröder was doing his thing with the German national men’s basketball team, all so he could check in on Schröder.

“I think he had a girlfriend at the time,” Schröder said. “So yeah, just to see that, he didn’t have to do that and he just wanted to be there. That’s the reason why I appreciate him so much.”

And Schröder is positive the Hornets will, too.

“He’s 35 and got that job — that speaks for itself,” Schröder said. “Thirty-five years old. I don’t know nobody in the league who says Jeff Peterson is. ... Nobody in this league can say a bad word about him because he’s just a straightforward guy, keeps it real but honest. I think as a GM., as a coach, those things — keeping people accountable as well — those things are really really important nowadays in a player’s league.

“And every time when I messed up, he came to me and was like, ‘Yo, Dennis, this wasn’t right.’ And he wasn’t afraid of the moment or saying it. And he’s such a great human being as well.”

This whole new dynamic with Peterson in charge in Charlotte is going to be an adjustment period for everyone, and Peterson getting a head start on evaluating the entire organization is supposed to aid in smoothing over the transition leading into what should be an active offseason.

For Clifford, things are a tad bit different now since he’s not reporting to Kupchak any longer.

“I have a real friendship with Mitch,” Clifford said. “I’ve worked for Mitch before in L.A. Mitch and I go out and golf, and Jeff and I will do the same. Jeff and I used to golf in Brooklyn.”

So, who typically had the better scorecard?

“Is this off the record?” Clifford said, eliciting laughs. “If you saw my swing you’d know I don’t beat many people. I have fun out there, that’s it. But I don’t beat many people.”

Perhaps he’ll have the opportunity to hit the links with Peterson again soon enough. Peterson raved about Clifford during his chat with The Observer following Wednesday’s news conference, backing the 62-year-old’s coaching ability.

Their familiarity with each other could help keep Clifford around beyond this season. Who knows?

“We have a comfort level and we spent a lot of time together when I was there. Again, he’s a talented guy, he’s a good basketball guy and he’s a great hire. Since he got here, we’ve been playing — this is 14 of 18 on the road for us. So, there’s not a lot of talking about golf.”

Soon, those conversations will shift even more into discussions about the future and the franchise’s direction beyond these remaining 18 games. Peterson is just digging in his heels, embarking on what will certainly be a lengthy journey to make the Hornets a team that can actually contend for a postseason spot yearly instead of sporadically.

“For sure,” Schröder said. “You always want to be great and I think that’s the reason why he got that job. I think it’s going to take some time, of course, but I think he knows what he’s doing and I’m going to follow it every step. Just to see him be great. But he’s for sure capable of doing that.”