Hawks to talk to Casey
The AJC’s Mark Bradley reports that the Hawks have been granted permission to speak with Dallas Mavericks assistant Dwane Casey.
Casey, the former head coach for Minnesota Timberwolves, is one of several candidates for the New Orleans Hornets’ head coaching position. Minnesota hired Casey before the 2005-06 season but fired him in Jan. 2007 despite Minnesota’s 20-20 record, which had the Timberwolves in contention for the No. 8 playoff seed in the Western Conference.
The Hawks say they won’t comment on their coaching search but so so far the team appears to be focused on assistant coaches as candidates. GM Rick Sund said Mike Woodson’s former assistants are under contract until June 30 but that he wouldn’t prevent them from seeking other jobs in the interim. That statement and Sund’s desire for a different voice to lead the Hawks both suggest Larry Drew, Woodson’s lead assistant, isn’t high on the initial candidate list.
MC
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167 comments Add your comment
Or Anyone From Nate "Iso-here we go again" McMillan's camp
May 16th, 2010
10:29 pm
#stepyagameup
Najeh Davenpoop
May 16th, 2010
10:33 pm
That link from atthehive makes Byron Scott just look like an improved version of Mike Woodson. Impatience with young players, stubbornness, smoke and mirrors on defense, inability to adjust the offense… the only key difference I see is that Scott actually takes the time to implement an offensive system before deciding never to change it, whereas Woody didn’t even bother to run an offense.
Elston Turner
May 16th, 2010
10:38 pm
Turner has studied under a successful head coach in Rick Adelman for 9 years, and according to Chris Mannix, Turner “served as Adelman’s chief game strategist and organized the Rockets’ game plans during the 2008 playoffs”. I can only assume he did the same for the Rockets semi-successful run in the 2009 playoffs, when they upset the favored Portland Trail Blazers in six, and took the world champion LA Lakers to seven games. Mannix also writes, “Turner is considered a strong communicator who has embraced Adelman’s read-and-react offensive system.”
-This might be tha move
Mystikal
May 16th, 2010
10:39 pm
Why is everyone so attached to Josh Smith? He is a very talented player, but he is immature and does not have a winner’s mentality. Besides that, he can’t shoot, can’t handle, no goto post moves, is very inconsistent, and undersized to play power forward position. Why not trade him now while value is good rather than 2 or 3 yrs from now when we’re all fed up?
Elston Turner
May 16th, 2010
10:40 pm
We need Read and React Baby!! No more JJ ISO’s!!!!! Teague would kill in this offense. So would bibby, but let’s be real, we need to trade this guy b4 nobody wants him.
#thatruthhurtsometimes
RC in ATL
May 16th, 2010
10:43 pm
Najeh,
I agree with what you are saying…Mike Smith had a good prior track record (as did Dimitroff, for that matter). And of course, roles are very different in the two sports and not measured the same way.
My point was this…despite the track record Mike Smith, no one really knew what kind of coach he’d be. I remember it being pointed out on a forum just like this one that Mike Smith was Jack Del Rio’s hand-puppet…that Del Rio ran the show and Smith was “thank you sir, may I have another.” Well, I think it is obvious that Mike Smith is not a yes man, and is quite capable of expressing himself, etc..
But no one really knew that until he put on the headphones and starting trolling the sidelines. So my real point was this: just because the name is not a household name doesn’t mean the coach is not quality. Somebody had to take a chance on Chuck Daly…Pat Riley…heck, Phil Jackson was an assistant on Doug Collins’ staff at Chicago.
One other note of importance, as long as we are comparing Mike Smith and this vacancy. I think it is important to mention the quality of assistant coaches that Coach Smith brought in with him. If we go with an assistant coach, it would be nice to see him pluck away some good assistants – maybe even some with head coaching experience (not necessarily this guy, but a guy like Dell Harris comes to mind) to work with him. There is no doubt that guys like Josh Smith need some strong personalities and leadership…and even guys like Al Horford, who are still somewhat in their development stages, need top notch coaching in the trenches of the practice floor, day in and day out…the kind that you get from good assistant coaches.
Big Ray
May 16th, 2010
10:45 pm
I’d be a bit leary of looking on the websites surrounding a team that an available coach last worked with. There is never enough defense for a coach from the fan base, really. Not from the media, either.
If you were a fan of another team that considered hiring Mike Woodson, and you checked these blogs and articles out on him, you’d probably come away thinking that not only should he not be hired, he shouldn’t be interviewed, and you might want to take a restraining order out on him, banning him up to 20 miles outside of your city limits.
But is that really true?
Sund’s job is to get into the details. Get it straight from the horse’s mouth. After you do your homework, of course. Which includes talking to people “in the know.” Not fans on a blog.
Bernard Burney
May 16th, 2010
10:47 pm
It seems the Hawks do not want a coach that will overshadow this management group. I think the problem with Woody is that he was bigger than the management team. So instead of hiring the best coach available, they will chose someone like Dwayne because he isn’t a big name coach. Woody had become too big for management.
Everyone keeps blaming the head coach for the Hawks short comings, these guys makes millions of dollars, and if they need the coach to motivate them each and every game, then the Hawks will be out in the second round each and every year. The coach can only coach, the players have to have a ernest desire to win. Do you think Phil Jackson has to motivate Kobe, or Greg P. motivate Tim Duncan. NO, Superstars motivate themselves and others around him. This is why JJ is not a tier one superstar, he requires someone to motivate him, he doesn’t show up in the playoffs.
If we resign JJ to a max contract, this will be the biggest mistake, we should resign him, but not at the max, give him a decent contract and go after a Center to help against the likes of Dwight Howard and the Bigs Cleveland has.
Elston Turner
May 16th, 2010
10:48 pm
“Elston has almost 15 years of experience as a assistant coach – most of which came under Rick Adelman, who trusted him with major responsibilities on both ends of the court, with a focus on defense – and he has experienced success at every stop during his NBA career.”
Big Ray
May 16th, 2010
10:50 pm
RC in ATL
I agree. Good assistants beats the heck out of “good buddies” any day. I thought it was absolute brilliance to bring in Bernie Bickerstaff and Del Harris alongside Vinny Del Negro. Too bad Del Negro was apparently more interested in trying to beat his boss in a UFC match of former NBA guards.
The only concern with Harris is he really wants a HC job. He was going to help out in New Jersey before finding out that he would not be considered for the HC job there. Once he got word of that, he left.
Thunder Dan
May 16th, 2010
10:51 pm
Recently had an interviw ith the sixers:
“Dan Majerle – Majerle (44) carries the most unknowns of the candidates on this list. He’s been an assistant with the Suns for the past two years, and most known for his nickname, Thunder Dan. It’s hard to tell what kind of coach Majerle will be, which is why I have him so low on my list, paired with the fact that he’s only been an assistant for two years. The best thing about hiring Majerle is he believes the Sixers should play “fast”, and he’s right.”
Thunder Dan quotes:
“They’re talented,” Majerle said. “They’ve got a lot of similarities to the way [the Suns are] set up. I think they’re looking to play fast, which is probably one of the reasons they talked to me. With that personnel, they probably should play fast.”
-I like it
#mightbethamove
Grandad
May 16th, 2010
10:53 pm
Of all the proposed trades I’ve seen on here;
logic seems to be a key element ‘Missing’
from the scenarios that I’m reading.
So, w/o further adieu
(and with all due respects to Diesel fom H-Sqwk)
Grandad’s trade o’ the day:
*works on NBA trade machine*
Memphis gets:
* Marv (They get young talented [3],[stretch 4]
ins. in case they lose Rudy, player who has started
on 3 consecutive play-off teams, palatable contract)
Hawks get:
* Hasheem Thabeet (we get our Big)
* DeMarre Carroll (hustle player/defender)
Bash away my friends!
Sam Mitchell
May 16th, 2010
10:54 pm
Recently had an interviw ith the sixers:
“Mitchell is 46 and has four full years as a head coach under his belt. He coached the Raptors from ‘04-’08, accumulating a 156-189 record in the process. Since, and prior to his job with the Raptors he’s been an assistant in numerous places, most notably in Minnesota during the KG era. However; my interest in Mitchell has nothing to do with his past experience, but rather the things he said in an interview with Dei Lynam. Most note-worthy quotes:”
“Just give [Sam Dalembert] his defined role,” he explained. “Play him 35-38 minutes a night. Tell him to go get every rebound and block shot out there and if he fouls out in the process so be it. Just show him love.”
“If I saw Iguodala attempt more then two threes in a game, I would cry,” he said. He went on to add that Iguodala should be attempting double figure free-throw attempts as opposed to long jumpers.”
doc
May 16th, 2010
10:56 pm
not sure why folks continue to rant on about casey as he had a plague associated to him. go back and look at the last 7 to 8 years of the declining debacle known as the timberwolves and he has been the only relevant bright spot. not sure why they got rid of him, well i do but i will save it for later, except maybe he was doing too good a job and they were winning and moving away from a sure lottery selection. this history should put any mention of mchale in the same breath as having a job here permanently asphyxiated. he was a whole lot worse than BK than even clyde could imagine.
though it may be only a footnote casey did spend some time in japan as a head coach and coached the national team alongside pete newell who has a name to fame as a big man coach. could he be part of our coaching squad if casey still has the relationship and newell still alive?
again casey didnt fall flat even though he should have when he was in minny. the next few folks failed miserably including a name from the past in randy wittman. going back to read over the summary of the wolves i saw the same words breathed by sund to describe why he let woody go used by mchale. yup, the dreaded cliche, the team needed a new voice to hear. yes, i shuddered.
I like it Grandad
May 16th, 2010
10:56 pm
#Mightbethamove
Big Ray
May 16th, 2010
10:56 pm
Bernard Burney
Yes. Phil Jackson has had to motivate Kobe sometimes. He has done it publicly. Remember when Phil called him out for his defense? He’s called him out for other stuff as well. Phil is famous for that.
Popovich isn’t know for “motivating” his players in the public eye. Who knows what he does in practice. The last person I knew who probably never had to be motivated one ounce at any time was Michael Jordan. Maybe Tim Duncan is another. Beyond that, who ya got? Wade works pretty hard to win. Lebron is not there yet.
I agree however, that Joe is not what some people think he is.
And as Geemack says, we need a true leader on the floor. Joe ain’t it. But he’s a very valuable player all the same. I agree to signing him to a good contract, but max is foolish.
Unless of course, somebody would like to prove to me that he’s a Tier 1 player and leader. Of course, you could blame the dearly departed Woody.
RC in ATL
May 16th, 2010
10:57 pm
Big Ray,
I totally agree with Harris. And I’m not sure I would want him as a HC. He was just the first guy that came to mind, and not necessarily a recommendation. Another name that comes to mind is uhh….the guy who coached here once before…and then went on to assist again in Seattle…was it Weiss? Bob Weiss? Can’t quite remember his first name! LOL Which is why I didn’t bring his name up to begin with…NOT that we would want him here to be an assistant…just using him as another example.
More Evidence that Avery Johnson is Crazy
May 16th, 2010
10:57 pm
He has the sixers community a little worried:
“Johnson has a lot going for him. He’s young (45 years old), he has an absurd winning percentage in the regular season (.735, 194-70 career record), and already has a Coach of the Year award under his belt. The problems with Avery are, his teams have failed in the playoffs (23-24, including being on the wrong end of one of the biggest upsets in playoff history), he’s rumored to have a massive ego, and he said some questionable things about the Sixers roster during a radio interview last off-season. The cons outweigh the pros in Avery’s case, but he still remains an intriguing candidate.”
RC in ATL
May 16th, 2010
10:58 pm
Big Ray…correction…
On the first line of my post, I meant to say “I totally agree WITH YOU on Harris.”
Justafan
May 16th, 2010
10:58 pm
Casey’s the man , get it done.
More Evidence that Avery Johnson is Crazy
May 16th, 2010
11:00 pm
Avery Johnson:
“Johnson was let go as Mavericks coach in May, 2008 after being unable to adjust to the roster he was presented, coming to a head late in that season, according to Mavs Moneyball.”
“Some insight into the soul of the now-ESPN analyst:”
“After the Denver loss, the first thing he did was strip Devin Harris of his freedom to run the offense. Fast breaks and offensive sets built off of transition were removed, as Johnson slowed the game down so that he could call plays and run the offense. For the first 20 games the Mavs offense was clocking in at 90 pace, a significant gain over the previous year’s glacial offensive pace. As we noted in a previous column, however, the pace was inconsistent. Twice in November Harris directed back-to-back-to-back games where the first game had a pace of over 95, which was followed up with a game where the pace plummeted to under 84, only to have the pace increase again to over 92. This inability to control the pace of the game clearly drove Johnson crazy, and the low point was, not coincidentally, the Denver game on December 6, where the Mavs played completely at Denver’s pace, over 100.”
“The next five games after Denver the Mavs pace never went over 85 and averaged an almost unbelievably slow pace of 83. To put this into perspective, the slowest team in 2006-2007 was the Detroit Pistons, and they averaged a pace of 86. After Denver, Johnson put the hammer down on Harris, and he never let up.”
#NOTthamove
I repeat: NOT THA MOVE!!!!
gcs
May 16th, 2010
11:01 pm
Dwane Casey??!! Are you @#$%ing kidding me?
.
More Evidence that Avery Johnson is Crazy
May 16th, 2010
11:01 pm
JUSTAFAN,
#youcrazy
Big Ray
May 16th, 2010
11:01 pm
Doc ,
I’m okay with Casey. But in your last line, that’s why they call it a cliche. Dummies and geniuses alike can both use it.
Grandad ,
Don’t know of Memphis likes that one, but I’ll take it. Although, I’m wondering if Thabeet has learned to not be a foul machine. Hope he doesn’t end up as Mikki Moore 2.0, ya know?
RC in ATL
May 16th, 2010
11:10 pm
With all this bashing of Avery Johnson…I would like to say this:
Basketball prowess aside, the guy would fit in nicely in Atlanta with his accent!
i_am_soulstar
May 16th, 2010
11:13 pm
Man, only God knows what this roster’ll look like come October with only Teague, Josh, Jamal, Al, Bibby, Marvin, and Zaza under contract. Rick Sund said the organization’s goal is to win a championship. We’ll be able to tell if he’s blowing smoke from the offseason acquisitions.
Mystikal
May 16th, 2010
11:13 pm
GET A CENTER!! WHAT CENTER??
Trade Josh Smith to Clippers for their 1st rounder, DeAndre Jordan, a future
1st rounder, and cash/trade exception
Trade Josh Smith to Memphis for Mark Gasol, Mike Conley (not panning out),
and 2 of their 1st round picks
Trade Josh Smith and our 1st round pick to Minnesota for Al Jefferson and
Wayne Ellington
Center is the hardest position to fill because there are so few, so other than getting lucky you
have to give to get. That is why I suggest trading Josh Smith cause he has a lot of value right now and no one wants Marvin Williams. What’d ya think?
Big Ray
May 16th, 2010
11:14 pm
RC in ATL
I hear you. Good assistants are like good council members. Of course, it also takes a head coach who will listen for feedback and have a few ounces of flexibility in him. No sense having assistants if all you’re going to do is delegate your foolishness to them and not listen to anybody about anything.
Poor Philadelphia (not that I really feel sorry for them). They fired two coaches who may not have needed it. They really need to fire Ed Stefanski, he’s the problem. In fact, this is the way I really see it:
1) Stefanski’s first blunder wasn’t huge and noticeable. But he never got the team any shooters.
2) His biggest, most obvious blunder was going after Elton Brand. He could have had Josh Smith (IF he offered up enough money or orchestrated a decent S&T), who would have fit their MO better. Mo Cheeks probably would have been able to handle him, I’m guessing. Good for us that this never happened. Either way, Brand took away everything that this team was built for. And, he pulled a Jermaine O’Neal on them.
3) He fired Mo Cheeks. Reasonable? Not to me. Expected? Sure. When the GM makes a huge, philosophy-changing move like bringing in a 20 and 10 low post player who pretty much only plays the halfcourt game to a team that was built for running.
4) Hired Eddie Jordan. Why? He runs a Princeton offense. Is your team built for a Princeton offense? Does is have the type of guards for that? How about the bigs?
5) Fired Eddie Jordan. Should have never hired him. You saw what he did in Washington, dummy. And that was with more workable pieces.
RC in ATL
May 16th, 2010
11:14 pm
Hearing him talk of trying to guard “Kowe-Bee” (Kobe) the other night in the Suns “SEA-REEZE” (series) was quite entertaining…and very Southern, I might add!
Big Ray
May 16th, 2010
11:16 pm
i am soulstar
Wouldn’t be looking for a championship team next year. I WOULD, however, be looking for signs of re-tooling for one. And obviously there will be more people under contract by training camp. But you’re right, we have no idea what this roster will look like.
To be honest, I’m not completely certain Josh will be on this team by then. Just sitting back and watching what happens with that one. Especially if Joe leaves.
Big Ray
May 16th, 2010
11:19 pm
LOL @ RC in Atl
Big Ray
May 16th, 2010
11:21 pm
Mystikal
Just curious. If Conley isn’t panning out in Memphis, might we not be curious as to why? Having said that, I have no issues with a young, credible pg in the stable alongside Teague. Competition and all that. I’d much rather have a pg controversy that results in a clear cut starter at some point, than watching Teague go through the growing pains of finally getting some good minutes, while Bibby tells jokes on the bench.
RC in ATL
May 16th, 2010
11:22 pm
Big Ray,
I am inclined to agree with your response to I AM SOULSTAR too. Maybe Josh and Joe are both gone next year. But things aren’t that bad. This team has some good players, some great trading chips, and a good-sized expiring contract after next season (10-plus million of Jamal Crawford). This is not a rebuilding effort, by any means. Good, young nucleus.
It may take a step backwards before we can move forward. And then again, it may not. Who knows. This team could be one or two moves away from serious contention, especially with a new coach!
I’d much rather be in the place the Hawks are right now, than say…the Celtics. They are good now, but old, and lots of money on the books…and their near-term future mortgaged for these three shots at winning it all…two of which have already been spent. Granted, a title would be awesome, but I sure would hate to think we would have to go back to 20 wins for a couple of years to get it.
lewis
May 16th, 2010
11:22 pm
Try to obtain Marc Gasol.
Try to obtain Tony Parker.
Tony Parker/Marc Gasol/Joe Johson/Al Horford/ ?
is this possible?
Big Ray
May 16th, 2010
11:23 pm
However, Marc Gasol does sweeten the pot some. I can’t see Memphis doing it though, unless they think Thabeet should be their starting center (dude just came back from the D-league). Besides, where are they going to play Josh Smith? Him out there with Zach Randolph? I mean…I don’t think Chris Wallace is a genius either, but if he does that then he earns the Glutton for Punishment award of the year.
Big Ray
May 16th, 2010
11:24 pm
We are not getting Tony Parker.
bigdave
May 16th, 2010
11:24 pm
why did McHale fire this guy…?
doc
May 16th, 2010
11:27 pm
gus i got one plugged up in blogosphere because i tried to throw a wrinkle in on thabeet. check it out before you get too excited. he wasnt a star in the dbl, far from it though they said he didnt look totally outclassed, only he was among his contemporaries. if it only took height we would have already found our big for the coming years in rand mo.
rc i couldnt listen to his voice for tow minutes. like nire said pure chalk board material grinding away at sensibilities.
More Evidence that Avery Johnson is Crazy
May 16th, 2010
11:29 pm
I do like his accecnt and his interviws though. He’s a great personality, he’s just not the coach for us.
RC in ATL
May 16th, 2010
11:30 pm
LOL Doc! His voice might prompt Josh to tune into the Kiss Cam more…which would not be a good thing!
More Evidence that Avery Johnson is Crazy
May 16th, 2010
11:31 pm
I like the Kiss Cam too.
RC in ATL
May 16th, 2010
11:33 pm
Watching the Kiss Cam is fun. Starring on it…that would be more fun! LOL
VinceVanGo
May 16th, 2010
11:43 pm
Look at what the Celtics have done in the playoffs! Why? All the “old guys” got healthy. No! They play great defense, they’ve got shooters, River’s has a game play and changes with the flow of the game. But the number one reason is they have a great point guard. Rondo attacks the basket, creates assists, plays strong defense, and leads the team. The Hawks need that. If it’s Teague, great! If not, get one, through free agency, trade, or trade up in the draft. If the Hawks can get a real good point guard, make Horford the go to guy, get a couple of good shooters, and play tenacious defense they will be better than any team that Woodson had.
Glitchy
May 16th, 2010
11:45 pm
Hey Michael, if we hire him, what are you going to call him? First names only here in the A-T-L, cuz we are so effin’ hip.
Dwane? D-Wayne? Wayniac? DC? Caseman? Smoove2? Suitman?
I know what you WON’T call him – Coach Casey.
God, I’m gonna be sick………….
doc
May 16th, 2010
11:52 pm
RC, one in our midst did. i was at a game last year and looked up and melvin was sitting there in his hawks jersey kissing on his girl. one of the hero moves from one of our own.
shaq’s favorite moments during time outs were catastrophy theatre. he loved it also was a good sport when they focused on him usually kissing on another player on the bench.
celts shut down the lanes didnt they? and no one got open threes.
Grandad
May 16th, 2010
11:59 pm
If Thabeet were more ready, Memphis would not consider
the deal. We would be banking on Thabeet maturing. While
Memphis would be banking on Marv’s untapped potential.
That’s why I mention logic.
If Thabeet was already the next Dikembe Mutombo we
would have no shot nor would he have spent time in
the D-league. Conversely if if Aunt Betty had a mustache,
she’d be Uncle George.
dub366
May 17th, 2010
12:00 am
all we need is a coach and a big man in the middle no whole sale changing
Grandad
May 17th, 2010
12:06 am
VinceVanGo – Look at what the Celtics have done in the playoffs!
Why?
Not to disagree, Rondo has been terrific.
But the ansswer is…they guard the piss out of you!
Glitchy – ‘ ‘ Dwano ‘ ‘
TruthSeeker
May 17th, 2010
12:16 am
Good, cheap, young center for the Hawks to consider: Garret Siler, who was with the team in training camp last year and came very close to making the squad. He averaged 14.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and shot 76% from the floor for the Shanghai Sharks in China. He’s a 7-footer with upside who could fill a spot in the Hawks’ frontcourt rotation.
Plus he’s an Augusta State alumni and I’ve gotta stump for a fellow Jaguar.
i_am_soulstar
May 17th, 2010
12:18 am
Thabeet is a bust so far… Let’s not and say we did