Another veteran assistant joins Hornets' list of HC candidates

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, another veteran assistant has joined the Hornets' list of head coaching candidates. Clippers assistant Jay Larranaga will interview for the top job in Charlotte.

A former professional basketball player in Europe, Larranaga coached the Erie BayHawks from 2010-12, then spent nine seasons as an assistant in Boston under Brad Stevens. Following Stevens’ ascension to the Celtics’ front office, Larranaga made the move to Los Angeles, where he has spent the last three seasons on Tyronn Lue‘s Clippers staff.

The Hornets are getting a head start on their coaching search since Steve Clifford announced last week that he would step down from his role at the end of the regular season. The team has been granted permission to speak to several assistant coaches around the NBA.

In addition to Larranaga, the Hornets are reportedly interviewing — or have already interviewed — Charles Lee, Jordi Fernandez, Kevin Young, David Adelman, and Lindsey Harding. That list of confirmed candidates may continue to grow in the coming days.