CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ I heard Charlotte Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak use a word Wednesday I thought he'd never utter.
"Rebuild."
Kupchak and coach James Borrego avoided that term almost compulsively, even if it's the most accurate description of what the Hornets are doing. Embracing that is important, because the last thing the Hornets should consider is quick fixes.
Everyone is in agreement on that, Kupchak said in a midseason interview, including team owner Michael Jordan.
"He's 100 percent on board with what we're doing," Kupchak said. "We made a decision to take a certain approach for this summer, and we knew what that would lead to (losing) this year. There are no surprises."
The Hornets are 18-36 coming out of the All-Star break, the sixth-fewest victories in the NBA. Borrego has leaned to young guys in every close playing-time decision. The Hornets will enter the offseason with a high first-round pick and at least $28 million in salary-cap space.
That's an opportunity to improve. It could also be an invitation to screw up: To overpay with dollars and years to sign a free agent who makes them just marginally better. To trade for a veteran who might be out of the rotation by the time the Hornets contend for a playoff spot.
Jordan became one of basketball's greatest players with massive competitive zeal. It's important he tempers that zeal and ride out the losses at least another season.
Jordan has said the intermediate step in building a contender is a roster talented enough to earn home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Hornets are a long way from there. Jordan needs to keep reminding himself of that.
Kupchak has demonstrated with some solid draft picks that he has a grasp on the situation. He says there is a plan, and everyone is synchronized. They need to stick to that script.
