General manager Rich Cho said the Charlotte Hornets are awaiting the outcome of an NBA investigation before deciding whether to reinstate forward Jeffrey Taylor following his arrest on domestic assault charges.
Speaking at a media day news conference Monday, Cho said it was ”appropriate” for the organization to act ”decisively and swiftly.”
”We take domestic violence as a very serious matter,” Cho said.
The Hornets announced Friday that the 25-year-old Taylor wouldn’t be allowed to participate in any team-related activities one day after East Lansing Police in Michigan charged him with one count of domestic assault, one count of assault and one count of malicious destruction of property following an altercation at a hotel.
Cho said he’s spoken with Taylor, who was released Thursday on $5,000 bond, but declined to discuss details of that conversation or any information related to the case.
The GM did say he has no knowledge of a videotape from the hotel that might shed light on the altercation.
”We will assist the NBA and law enforcement in any way we can until this comes to an acceptable resolution,” Cho said.
Cho wouldn’t say what it would take for Taylor to be reinstated.
”I don’t want to get into hypotheticals,” Cho said. ”The NBA is investigating. We will have to let the process play out.”
Cho called the matter ”disappointing,” but doesn’t think it should take away from the optimism heading into the season.
Coach Steve Clifford said Monday that Taylor was fighting for a spot in the rotation, but said he feels comfortable with the depth the team has there.
Clifford said Lance Stephenson will start at one of the wing spots and either Gerald Henderson or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will start at the other. The Hornets also have veteran 3-pointer shooting guard Gary Neal coming off the bench, so Taylor might have had trouble seeing minutes had he been on the active roster.
”We do have a lot of depth at the wing position,” Cho said. ”Coach Clifford and his staff do a great job and we’re still expecting to have a great season.’
