Start the clock on bringing a close to the Steve Clifford era in Charlotte.

The Hornets head coach hasn’t been shown the door yet, but if owner Michael Jordan is looking out for his franchise, those office keys should be jingling. This team has gone stagnant over two seasons despite tweaks and overly optimistic promises of reaching playoff form. It’s been a mighty long time since 2016 when Charlotte duked it out with Miami in a thrilling seven-game playoff series.The Hornets haven’t sniffed the postseason since.

Clifford is a good person. And he’s honest, which means he understands the stakes involved. He told reporters after a loss earlier this month to that underperforming bunch from Brooklyn: “[N]obody, nobody has had more to do with putting this team together, nor obviously coaching it [than me]. I’m in charge of – almost every one of these guys is here, at least in some part, because of me. And I’m responsible for getting them ready to play and this is not happening.”

Amen, brother. And that’s a firing offense in major league sports.

Clifford caught a break last year when Jordan retained him in hopes that continuity would produce results. It hasn’t. Outside of All-Star guard Kemba Walker – whom the Hornets were OK with talking trade earlier this season – and center Dwight Howard, this team isn’t very good. They don’t play defense. They’re earning too much money for the lack of wins. It’s a bad scene all around.

“Players in this league find a way, they have to find a way,” Clifford said. “The great ones find a way 82 times, 82 times, or close to it to get themselves ready to play. The other thing is, they’re just like we are. One of the biggest things you learn as you get older is how you handle success, how you handle disappointment, frustration in your life is everything. It is. And we’re not doing that well right now.”

The front office architect of this dud, Rich Cho, is out as general manager. The other shoe has to drop if Charlotte is going to start the process of becoming relevant. The Hornets are hamstrung by lucrative long-term deals for Nic Batum and Marvin Williams, which make finding trade partners difficult. Since it’s tough to unload so much high-priced talent in one fell swoop, it’s easier to dump the coach.

Just do it.

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