The Hawks‘ head coaching search continues to focus on Quin Snyder, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, who reports that the two sides have made progress in their talks on a deal to make him Nate McMillan‘s permanent replacement. A resolution could come within the next few days, Wojnarowski adds.
As Wojnarowski outlines, Snyder has spent time this week discussing philosophy and team-building with general manager Landry Fields, assistant GM Kyle Korver, and Hawks owner Tony Ressler. Those conversations are giving the involved parties an opportunity to evaluate how a partnership would work.
Following the Hawks’ dismissal of McMillan on Tuesday, reports identified Snyder as one of several head coaching candidates who would receive consideration from the team. However, most of the other candidates mentioned – with the exception of former Celtics coach Ime Udoka – are currently under contract with other NBA teams, complicating Atlanta’s ability to pursue them immediately.
The Hawks promoted assistant Joe Prunty and named him their interim head coach, so they have the option of playing out the season with Prunty and conducting a more exhaustive search in the spring.
However, it appears Atlanta is interested in making a permanent hire sooner rather than later, and there’s nothing standing in the way of negotiating a deal with Snyder, who is the team’s top target, as Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on Thursday. Snyder hasn’t taken another job since stepping down as the Jazz’s head coach last June.
Snyder is considered the best coach available on this year’s marketplace, and the Hawks are prepared to make a substantial financial commitment to him, according to Wojnarowski.
It remains possible that the Hawks and Snyder won’t ultimately come to an agreement — it’s worth recalling that the NBA’s most recent coaching search in Brooklyn appeared headed in one direction before the Nets pivoted away from Udoka and hired Jacque Vaughn instead. For the time being though, it appears the Hawks will focus on working things out with Snyder before seriously considering any other options.
Snyder wants to sign up for that multiple year contract so after Trae Young runs him out of town in year two, he can sit at home collecting mega bucks for doing nothing.
Snyder, of course, doesn’t have anything even distantly approaching the PR baggage that Udoka brings. That helps from Atlanta’s point of view.
You’ll not see nothing like the Mighty Quinn.
Snyder wants the San Antonio job but Pop isn’t gonna just pinpoint to him EXACTLY when he’s gonna step down, just because the Hawks job is open. Classic Popovich.
“How bad do you want the Spurs job, Quin?”
Mike Budenholzer’s coaching staff his first year in ATL was LOADED. 4 future HC on the bench is pretty wild.
ATL could do way worse than Snyder, so I’ll take it.
What had Quin Snyder won, exactly? Are we sure he’s a great coach?
How about I respond with some questions for you.
1) What coach that has won anything is out there looking for work and/or willing to come to Atlanta?
2) What coach out there who hasn’t won a title has consistently won at a higher percentage over a 5+ year stretch in the ‘players begging for more help or trade me’ era?
link to basketball-reference.com
Sort by ‘last year’ (hit twice for most recent at top), and then go past all those in bold (currently coaching) and start looking at winning percentages. You will not find better.
I mean, you are really looking at the best ‘available’ coach going by past history, and a far cry better track record than Nate (19 years and only made it past first round twice). Your only other option is to go with an unproven coach and while you might get a diamond in the rough, the chances are much slimmer than Quin.
Oh, and I am not a fan of Offense first coaches, but let’s face it, there is not a defense first coach on the planet dumb enough to take on this roster.
Snyder & Young don’t strike me as a good pairing. I can see Snyder not enjoying Trae if things aren’t going well on the basketball court, and the Trae/Mac pre-game shoot around incident starts happening.
Snyder managed Gobert, and Mitchell. Utah reached its peak based on the roster ingredients, same as the Hawks have. Snyder probably learned a thing, or 2 that might be of service to Young & the Hawks.
Snyder also has a reputation for being a stickler about team rules & accountability. This is an experiment either way, but worth-while for both parties.
I am not sure there is a good pairing for Trae. I prefer defense first coaches, but Trae is not going to man up and play consistent defense.
Might as well bring in an offense first coach and just commit to trying to score 130+ per night in order to win. It will be entertaining, even if it blows up.
I honestly wouldn’t take the job if I was Snyder. I am just getting the feeling that Trae is not someone to build your coaching resume on. I think Pierce should have already gotten another shot, but that was probably Nate’s last.
True, Mac has been a solid coach, but underwhelming playoff results, and # of rings on his fingers.
I know Snyder is a defense guy, but the Hawks should encourage, or require an offensive coaching staff inclusion.
You can’t have a scorer, and facilitator like Trae, and not play a high octane offense. That’s almost more criminal that not playing defense.