2:13pm: Vanterpool won’t be among the Hawks’ head coaching candidates after all, tweets Michael Cunningham of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
9:30am: The Hawks are the latest NBA team to embark on a search for a new head coach, having confirmed on Wednesday that they’ve parted ways with Mike Budenholzer, who had held the position since 2013. While there’s no presumed frontrunner to replace Budenholzer yet, a number of potential candidates have already emerged for Atlanta.
The Hawks are expected to talk to former Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale and current Trail Blazers assistant Nate Tibbetts about their head coaching position, a source tells Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. Fizdale has been one of this spring’s most popular head coaching candidates, having previously been linked to the Knicks, Suns, and Hornets. It’s the first time we’ve heard Tibbetts connected to one of the ongoing searches, however.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski adds a few more names to the Hawks’ list of candidates, reporting that the club is also expected to consider Hornets assistant Stephen Silas, Spurs assistants Ime Udoka and James Borrego, and another Trail Blazers assistant, David Vanterpool.
Borrego has been another assistant whose name has frequently popped up in coaching rumors this spring — he has been linked to the Knicks and Suns. Meanwhile, Silas was identified as a possible head coaching candidate in the wake of Steve Clifford‘s ouster in Charlotte. As Amick and Zillgitt note, Silas is “widely respected” around the NBA and was with the Warriors at the same time as current Hawks GM Travis Schlenk.
It’s no surprise that the initial group of candidates for the rebuilding Hawks includes a number of NBA assistants. Wojnarowski writes that the team wants to hire an up-and-coming coach who can evolve along with Atlanta’s young roster. Vanterpool, Silas, and Tibbetts all showed up near the top of a recent list of NBA assistants who should receive head coaching consideration — that list was voted on by about three dozen executives around the league.
The Hawks are a very interesting roster to inherit. John Collins showed massive improvement on his jumpshot and should be ready to take over at the 4 next season. Prince was also quite impressive and showed he’s ready to be that swing 3 who can get them 20-35 points a night and be a marksmen. The jury is still out on Dennis, his perimeter game is inconsistent but I think he’s just fine at the 1. Fizdale should jump at the chance to coach this team, Bazemore is fine at the 2 so maybe taking a shot at Bamba or maybe molding Bagley into a 5 would be a good idea. Bagley at the 5 would be something interesting to experiment with, that type of versatility at the 4-5 and ability to push the ball up the floor would cause nightmares for defenses.
If they are keeping Schroder, Bazemore, and Prince at 1-3. Then need to hope Bagley is there. Collins becomes your 5 and/or back-up 4. Collins is the lesser of the two skill wise.
I don’t think you can take Bamba. Bamba is on a scale of Thabeet – Noel – Capela. If he’s anything less than Capela, you’ve wasted that pick. Can’t take him on this roster. You need a game changing scorer. Same reason you can’t take Jackson. Porter, you could take, he could probably handle the 4.
I have a feeling they will blow this thing up. But They actually could compete for the 7th or 8th spot if they landed Bagley if everyone stays healthy.
Absolutely, Bagley at the 5 would intriguing to watch. With a summer of weight lifting I think he could handle the 5, I want Collins at the 4 because his shooting form is really good and he showed he can knock down perimeter jumpers with consistency. Bamba will be a lot better then you think.
Bust potential, Bamba is right behind Doncic. If I’m ranking biggest bust to safest…
1 – Doncic
2 – Bamba
3 – Jackson
4 – Young
5 – Carter
6 – Ayton
7 – Porter – Either he’ll be the best player in this draft, or his back will give him issues throughout his career.
8 – Miles Bridges
9 – Mikal Bridges
10 – Bagley
Intetesting list. Have to agree with it.