Hornets name Steve Clifford head coach

LaMelo Ball, right, will have a new head coach in Steve Clifford.Charlotte Hornets announced Friday that they have hired Steve Clifford as their new head coach. If the name sounds familiar, it should. Clifford was previously the bench boss from 2013-2018. His 196 wins rank second in franchise history, sitting just 11 behind Allan Bristow.

“We are pleased to welcome Steve back to our franchise,” said President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Mitch Kupchak in a released statement. “We believe that his previous experience and coaching philosophy make him the best coach for our team. Steve has a proven track record of improving defenses and is detail-oriented. He has a history of…