The Charlotte Hornets have begun their search to replace Mitch Kupchak to run their basketball operations department.

Sources tell Marc Stein that the Brooklyn Nets' Jeff Peterson, New Orleans Pelicans' Trajan Langdon and Minnesota Timberwolves' Matt Lloyd are three leading candidates for the position. Stein later reported that Austin Ainge of the Boston Celtics is another candidate to monitor. 

Peterson is a top aide to Sean Marks and Brooklyn has a strong interest in trying to keep him. Peterson previously worked with Hornets' co-owner Rich Schanll with the Atlanta Hawks.

Langdon has been a strong candidate for lead decision-maker jobs previously. 

Lloyd was one of Tim Connelly's first hires with the Wolves and has previous experience with the Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic.

Jimmy Butler and Naji Marshall have each been suspended one game without pay for instigating and engaging in an on-court altercation during the Heat’s 106-95 victory over the Pelicans on Feb. 23 at Smoothie King Center, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.  

Additionally, Thomas Bryant and Jose Alvarado have each been suspended three games without pay for leaving the bench area during an on-court altercation and fighting.  

Nikola Jovic has been suspended one game without pay for leaving the bench area and entering an on-court altercation. 

The incident began when Kevin Love committed a foul on New Orleans’ Zion Williamson with 11:19 remaining in the fourth quarter.  Following that foul, Butler and Marshall engaged in a physical altercation and then Alvarado and Bryant began fighting. For their roles, Alvarado, Bryant, Butler and Marshall were assessed technical fouls and ejected from the game.

Alvarado will begin serving his suspension tonight when New Orleans hosts the Chicago Bulls. Marshall will also serve his suspension tonight. Bryant will begin serving his suspension on Monday, Feb. 26 when the Heat visit the Sacramento Kings. Butler and Jovic will also serve their suspensions that night. 

The New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to sign Jalen Crutcher to a 10-day contract.

Crutcher has averaged 17.7 points and 5.6 assists this season in the G League.

Crutcher is represented by Greg Lawrence. 

The New Orleans Pelicans are set to sign Malcolm Hill to a two-way contract. The Pelicans opened a two-way spot when they signed Jeremiah Robinson-Earl to a standard contract.

Hill previously signed a 10-day deal with New Orleans, but he did not appear in an NBA game during that time. The 6-foot-6 guard has appeared in 33 games with the Birmingham Squadron, the Pelicans G League affiliate. With the Squadron, Hill has averaged 22.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. Hill also has 49/41/88 shooting splits on the season.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl has agreed to a new two-year standard NBA deal with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Robinson-Earl was previously on a Two-Way contract with the Pelicans.

In 21 games with the Pelicans this season, Robinson-Earl is averaging 3.7 points and 2.3 rebounds in 10.0 minutes.

Robinson-Earl is represented by Ron Shade and Alex Saratsis.

The New Orleans Pelicans announced that Dyson Daniels underwent a successful meniscectomy on his left knee. The surgery was performed by Dr. Brian Cole of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush University. Daniels is expected to make a full recovery and will be re-evaluated in four weeks to determine his recovery progression. 

Daniels has appeared in 52 games (15 starts) this season, averaging 5.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals in 21.9 minutes per game.

Dyson Daniels will be out indefinitely with a meniscus tear in his left knee.

Daniels is averaging 5.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals in 21.9 minutes over 52 games this season with the New Orleans Pelicans. 

The New Orleans Pelicans have interest in acquiring Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks. Since it became clear Murray was put on the trade market, he has been most strongly linked with the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks.

"I do think there's another team that has piqued Atlanta's interest and vice versa, and that's New Orleans," said Adrian Wojnarowski. "There's been some conversations. I don't know if they've elevated quite yet. I think there maybe could be some more here leading to the trade deadline on a deal that I don't think would include CJ McCollum. I think it would be Dejounte Murray with him."

Wojnarowski adds that the Pelicans would have interest in Onyeka Okongwu along with Murray.

The Pelicans have a surplus of future picks incoming from the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers.

Karlo Matkovic appears headed to the NBA. Slovenian Club Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana announced Matkovic is leaving the team to join the NBA.

The New Orleans Pelicans hold Matkovic's NBA draft rights. He was a second-round pick by the Pelicans at the 2022 NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-11 big man has played two seasons with Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana. This season Matkovic has averaged 15.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game across all competitions.

The Pelicans are currently $2.6 million below the luxury tax, with one roster spot open. New Orleans also has most of the Non-Taxpayer MLE remaining. They could also use the new Second Round pick exception to sign Matkovic to a three- or four-year deal.