Hornets sign Charles Lee to contract extension. What it means for Charlotte

The Charlotte Hornets have signed head coach Charles Lee to a contract extension, the team announced on May 7.

The Hornets did not disclose the terms of the deal. But the move signals that the franchise is betting on continuity after Lee guided Charlotte to a 44-38 finish in his second season, a 25-win improvement from his first year.

AP and other outlets reported that the extension was announced after the team's best season in years. Charlotte Observer coverage said the Hornets were rewarding Lee after the team's turnaround, while AP reported that team president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson said Lee has built a foundation.

Lee said he is excited about the direction of the team and the culture being built. That message matches the larger implication of the deal: Charlotte wants to keep its young core and coaching staff stable as it tries to turn improvement into sustained success.

The Hornets' official announcement did not say how long the extension runs. For now, the main takeaway is that Charlotte is locking in the coach who helped deliver one of the franchise's better recent seasons.