Atlanta Hawks: Avery Johnson says he’s agreed to coach Nets
Johnson headed to Nets, not Hawks.
One coaching candidate down for the Hawks, three still in the mix.
The Associated Press reported that Avery Johnson says he’s agreed to coach the Nets. Johnson told the AP the team is expected to announce the news on Thursday.
Johnson was among four candidates the Hawks have been considering as the replacement for Mike Woodson. With Johnson apparently out of the running, general manager Rick Sund and Atlanta’s ownership group now will choose from among Dwane Casey, Larry Drew and Mark Jackson.
Casey is a Dallas assistant coach and former head coach in Minnesota. Drew was an assistant under Woodson, who was let go after six seasons. Jackson, a television broadcaster, hasn’t been a coach at any level but was a long-time NBA point guard.
A person with knowledge of the process said Hawks management is still considering all three candidates and will make a decision soon. The Hawks, Cavaliers and Clippers are the only teams yet to name a head coach.
MC
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309 comments Add your comment
Michael Cunningham
June 9th, 2010
5:19 pm
@JD: “What about Byron Scott?” a few days ago Scott has said he wasn’t contacted for any jobs, which is strange with all the openings. as far as i know, hawks never inquired.
Michael Cunningham
June 9th, 2010
5:19 pm
@JD: “What about Byron Scott?” a few days ago Scott has said he wasn’t contacted for any jobs, which is strange with all the openings. as far as i know, hawks never inquired.
The Truth
June 9th, 2010
5:23 pm
Perhaps the most comprehensive breakdown of all prospective coach candidates.
Based on my previous comments on the subject Hawks fans, introducing the “new voice” coach of the Atlanta Hawks
MsDee
June 9th, 2010
5:28 pm
MC,
What your take on what suggested earlier..Why not hire Larry Drew as HC and then Larry hire Mark Jackson as assistant coach!! It works out in both favor..Larry has 1st hand knowledge of what doesnt work with the Hawks and by hiring Mark will give him the opportunity to have SOME coaching experience under his belt and to still develop Teague to be the PG for the Hawks..what u think???
mr
June 9th, 2010
5:31 pm
this is bull!!! just another wonderful decision my an atlanta sports team .this is why they can’t get fans in the seats ,their a joke .i want owners who give a damn amd maybe i will.please do us all a favor and leave town on the first thing smoking.thats exactly how you get the attention of your fans and your team full of immature kids ,go hire an immature kid to coach them.just horrible!!!!!!!!
Texas Pete
June 9th, 2010
5:32 pm
Could a silver lining in a Mark Jackson hire be that he’ll at least make sure the Hawks have a legit PG within the next 2 seasons? Either he’ll coach up Teague or get Sund to sign/trade-for a young solid PG.
Kew
June 9th, 2010
5:33 pm
I would go with Mark Jackson – he can only help this team, not bring them down. This team already know how to win, they just need a center and a couple of adjustments – and I think Mark Jackson is just the man who can do it. He and Avery had time to look at the Hawks during the playoffs while commentating and saw where they went wrong while the other coaches (not Byron) was trying to figure out why their teams was losing in the playoffs. MARK JACKSON WOULD BRING MORE TO THE TABLE, PLUS MORE FANS WOULD COME OUT JUST BECUASE OF HIM ALONE.
O'Brien
June 9th, 2010
5:39 pm
Another reason to take the nets job. There is a small possibility that lebron could sign with them. Also, as a former PG, maybe he wants to work with Devin harris, who is a former all star and knows his system.
And the Nets owner said his plan is to win a championship in 5 years. What is the plan of the ASG?
Also, I dont think the new Nets owner is going to wait on fans to come out and support the team before he decides to spend more money. I think he will be willing to spend money (smartly) right away.
Notso Fast
June 9th, 2010
5:40 pm
Time for a decision. The longer we wait the more it appears we aren’t satisfied with any of the names and waiting for somebody else to become available. Now is the time.
Ramon
June 9th, 2010
5:44 pm
O’Brien, I think the plan of the ASG is to find a buyer for the team within the next five years. I think they’re trying to keep the team competitive and drive up the value so they can sell. But the tricky part is, if the fans aren’t supporting the Hawks in Atlanta, its very easy to see a new owner coming and trying to move the team to another city.
tim
June 9th, 2010
5:45 pm
Why isn’t Ex Cav coach Mike Brown not being considered? At least interview the man.
Rod from College Park
June 9th, 2010
5:50 pm
I like Mark Jackson as a person, but there should be one rule that people that people from (native) Atlanta should always live by. Never hire a New Yorker to do anything in Atlanta, let alone be the coach of our basketball team. I would hire Steve Smith before I hired Mark Jackson. He actually knows the players, and knows what our weaknesses are.
Ken Strickland
June 9th, 2010
5:53 pm
Those of you who were on the Avery Johnson bandwagon shouldn’t blame Sund or the ASG. Since AJohnson is from New Orleans, the Hornets were his 1st choice, but they weren’t interested, which made the Nets his 2nd choice. Why offer him our coaching position knowing we were at best his 3rd option. With the likelihood of him turning us down, it would make the other candidates feel like they were consolation prizes.
Just like it was common knowledge all along that the Hornets and Nets were his top 2 choices, I’m certain other teams knew all along that Casey and Drew were our 2 top candidates. It’s also obvious Casey and Drew know where they stand with the Hawks, which is probably why they remain available, especially Casey. I think either one would be an excellent choice as HC.
And I don’t buy into the idea of the players not responding to Drew because he was Woodson’s assistant, and they need to hear a different voice. Woodson’s voice wasn’t what the players got tired of and tuned out. They got tired of his stubbornness, limitations, inflexibility and hearing what he was or wasn’t saying and/or doing.
Grandad
June 9th, 2010
5:53 pm
Look everyone; It’s time to stop bringing up new names.
Byron Scott, Thunder Dan, Doc, Van Gundy, et al.
‘Casey’ appears to be & has been all along the guy.
I wanted Avery for my reasons & now I’ve moved on.
Through process of elimination I’ve arrived @ Dwane Casey.
Although not my 1st choice he is & will not be a poor choice.
He is & will be a GOOD choice.
1st of all, I need to get over my own personal predjudice of –
the “Emory tape case” / cash enclosed / cheating incident.
I don’t know the details, so he deserves redemption regardless.
NOW
This is what I do know:
* He [Casey] is a “teacher”.
* He (from all appearances) seems to be a good man.
* !!! He’s not Woodson !!!
* He never should have been fired in Minnesota.
* He has prepared himself for this job.
* He is professional and “a” professional.
* He wants – ‘this’ / ‘our’ / ‘Hawks’ job.
AND LASTLY;
* !!! He’s still not Woodson !!!
Jody
June 9th, 2010
5:55 pm
I like Mark Jackson over the other two candidates. I think he would give this team a real identity as someone else previously said.
With that being said, folks can try to do all the damage and spin control they want. The Hawks dragging out this process and seeing THE candidate with the best resume pick another team so quickly doesn’t make them look very good. Point, blank, period.
Ramon
June 9th, 2010
5:56 pm
Rod, didn’t Lenny Wilkins do pretty well in Atlanta?
Grandad
June 9th, 2010
6:00 pm
Rod from College Park:
We disagree occasionally but my friend, you said it best:
“there should be one rule that people from (native) Atlanta
should always live by.
Never hire a New Yorker to do anything in Atlanta”
Great Post!!!
(Agreed x googleplex) *[sp]
Robert
June 9th, 2010
6:01 pm
Figures. It would make too much sense for an Atlanta team to hire a coach that has actually been successful. Gotta love it.
Mike Woodson
June 9th, 2010
6:06 pm
Man, what am I going to do with those 5,000 FIRE AVERY t-shirts I pre-ordered??
Oh well
bigdave
June 9th, 2010
6:08 pm
“Basically the top 7 players of last season made the Hawks a 53 win team, not Woody. The Hawks top 7 players are better than most top 7 players that other teams have.”
i have to agree… the top 7 alone barely beat a well prepared Bucks unit, but couldnt get us past Orlando.
The Truth
June 9th, 2010
6:10 pm
Ramon
I guess Rod didn’t see Lenny coming, LoL
Big Ray
June 9th, 2010
6:11 pm
The Truth
I find that article interesting. Something said about Avery Johnson that some people might want to think about:
Cons
Outcoached in the glaring postseason spotlight of ‘06 against Pat Riley and ‘07 against Nellie. … Badly mismanaged his Dallas rotation after the Devin Harris-Jason Kidd trade in ‘07-08. … Often regarded as arrogant and petulant, more comfortable blaming losses on player mistakes than being held accountable himself. … Flip-flopped twice on the Kidd-Harris deal, initially claiming he was behind it, then said he was never on board after being fired by Dallas.
If somebody had a problem with this in Woody, then they better shut their yammering skull cave about Avery Johnson. Apparently he’s much worse about it. I don’t remember Woody blaming the players too much…
Big Ray
June 9th, 2010
6:12 pm
That analysis didn’t make Mark Jackson look too good either. The problem with Jackson is he has to learn, and we’d be going through his growing his pains, and so would the team.
bigdave
June 9th, 2010
6:13 pm
“there should be one rule that people from (native) Atlanta should always live by.Never hire a New Yorker to do anything in Atlanta”
ill agree out of pure hate. however, is Cremins the exception..? Arthur Blank…?
Big Ray
June 9th, 2010
6:17 pm
Not worried about not getting Avery. He wasn’t wanting to come here anyway, so the smoke screen works both ways. Now if he really wanted it, he’d still be in the mix, and the ASG would have to do spin/damage control.
Rufus1
June 9th, 2010
6:18 pm
Mark Jackson
Only one of the coaches left were great at anything….MARK JACKSON
Only one of the coaches left has proven to be a leader of men…MARK JACKSON
Only one of the coaches left will command and demand immediate respect..MARK JACKSON
Only one of the coaches has a dominant personality..MARK JACKSON
HIRE THE MAN WHO IS A PROVEN LEADER OF MEN!!!
Dwane Casey
June 9th, 2010
6:18 pm
Why all the fuss over Mark Jackson? He hasn’t done squat.
I guess I understand the obsession with former PG coaches.
But I know how to coach big men. Ask Rashard Lewis and Kevin Garnett what they think of me.
I can most certainly help Al and Josh and Marvin improve their games.
Heck, I coached with Pete Newell for crying out loud.
I don’t have a massive ego, i’m going to surround myself with very legitimate assistants, perhaps Mark Jackson would be interested in a position on my staff.
Hawks Fan
June 9th, 2010
6:20 pm
Rick Sund is a f**kin dumb a**.Avery was the best out there.Stupid.Now he need to be fired.WTF BRUH The hawks are never going to be successful if they dnt learn to spend money
Section 303
June 9th, 2010
6:22 pm
I’m OK with either Casey or Drew. My initial thoughts were anyone but Drew. I’m off that now, though. Really, anyone but Jackson. I can’t stand listening to that clown on TV. I don’t want to watch him coach my favorite team.
Casey or Drew…I think either will be fine.
The Truth
June 9th, 2010
6:25 pm
Big Ray
As much as I praised the “little general” that con sounds about right. Even though AJohnson might have had the fewest negatives, it only takes one (good one) to be the dagger.
O'Brien
June 9th, 2010
6:34 pm
@ MC,
Will you get the scoop when the Hawks sign their head coach? I hope so, because I would prefer hearing it from you instead of the ESPN people (like Stein or Broussard).
As for the coaching search, I dont like the fact that the Hawks always seem to be slow to react, or slow to make a decision. I know that’s Rick’s style, but the multiple owners don’t help, and its not like the extra time allows Rick to make a great choice.
I dont think anyone is thinking that because the Hawks are taking their time, the chances are greater that they make the right hire. No matter who they select, we have no idea what to expect. So why drag it out.
JeJe
June 9th, 2010
6:39 pm
LOL
We’re gonna sign Casey (scrub coach) over someone who went to the Finals as a coach and has a RING as a player.
And why are there no freaking white candidates for the job?
FIRE SUND
truthspitter
June 9th, 2010
6:46 pm
The Hawks are a horrible franchise that we fans are stuck with. 2 bits of bad news so far this offseason. 1st Mo Evans resigns now we miss out on our 1st choice of coach.
I don’t want Casey.
Let’s get Mark Jackson, Laimbeer, or Thunder Dan
blackbee
June 9th, 2010
6:52 pm
This would have been the guy who wouldn’t have take no crap from the players, A guy who knows the all important point guard position and we let him go. Don’t try and drum up excitement for those other candidates, if this was all you were going to do you should have kept Woodson.
newkid
June 9th, 2010
7:20 pm
Happy for Avery, but didn’t expect the Russian to make an offer to him. Thought he’d want someone with ‘worldly glamour’ and a certain charisma to help him create his international jewel across the East River, and just didn’t think he’d see Avery as that kind of candidate. However, with this owner’s obvious committment to winning and the equity to finance his committment, he just might have gotten the sideline presence he needs to make a run at the O’Brien in a few years. And he likely won’t be threatened in the least by Avery’s strong personality. I look for LBJ to postpone his move to NYC for another 3 three years, which will give the new owner the time to develop current pieces and add additional complementary pieces before moving to Kings (sorry, I meant Brooklyn).
Now, what to do about our Hawks? Looks like Casey (probably Sund’s choice) or Drew (likely the choice of most owners). Yikes!
Kwijibo
June 9th, 2010
7:38 pm
How about co-coaches Jon Koncak and Danny Manning?!? *cough*
How old is Fratello? He always did a pretty good job here. We brought back Bobby Cox after years of him being away.. seemed to work out OK there.
Reality is that with our ownership….we’re hosed.
drmaryb
June 9th, 2010
7:48 pm
Sund
Are THE Man – or a YES Man! Can you not make a hire without 8 owners signing off on it?
No wonder Billy Knight walked? He had no autonomy! He was sued and taken to court by the Evil -One when he traded Boris for Joe Johnson! We fans should be humbly grateful that Joe would even come to this dysfuntional organization and rabid fan base! And, do we seriously believe ANY other UFA would actually come here?
And yall want to trade Horford & Josh I tell me, for EXACTLY who? Whoever you name will probably refuse top board a plane headed this way? And, yall want to BOO Joe Johnson after 53 wins & RD 2?
If I were Joe, I would leave on the first bird out of here too!
If Gearon, Jr. Going to Russia – is the reason we don’t have a coach? Then he should have stayed his azz in Atlanta or video – conferenced his vote in here!
Now were officially the Clippers – East! Neither of us has a coach & nobody of any mettle wants to come here -neither coach nor player!
I’m done supporting this team! Somebody please call David McDavid!
Section 303
June 9th, 2010
7:51 pm
All these people saying they don’t want Casey…how do you know he would be a bad coach?
Whoever they get, give him a chance. I don’t want to come on here for the next four months and read about how someone who knows nothing about the hired coach already hates the hire. Just stop…a lot of good NBA coaches were once unknowns or unproven. Consider that before you jump into traffic after the Hawks make their pick.
lewis
June 9th, 2010
7:57 pm
Avery talked to Hawks 3 times. Re-grouping ATL meeting today and Thurs. Atlanta Spirit LLC Mike Gearon back in US which could expediate hire
cp
June 9th, 2010
7:58 pm
People just because you want a certain guy to come here doesn’t mean that person feels the same way. It was rumored from the beginning that Avery wanted the Hornets job and when that fell through he wanted the Nets job. I’m not shocked at all by this news. Lol@blaming the gm because the coach “chose” to go where “he” wanted to go and not where the fans wanted. Gotta love this blog
ksiujgth
June 9th, 2010
7:59 pm
hire woody back and give him a raise
lewis
June 9th, 2010
8:00 pm
^^ kidding
drmaryb
June 9th, 2010
8:02 pm
Sund
Correction: Are You THE Man – or the YES Man?
N. D. T. K. A.
June 9th, 2010
8:07 pm
Someone needs to be on suicide watch for this franchise is about to head in the wrong direction. Avery Johnson played on championship teams(Spurs) and played and coached under championship caliber coaches (Popovich and Larry Brown). Avery took a high offense, no defense, soft team to the Finals. Avery coached Dirk up, Dirk never posted anyone up before Avery came, Dallas never played much defense before Avery came! How is that not a respectable job? Why hire experiments (Dwane Casey, Mark Jackson), why not just keep Woody, at least you know what you are getting? What does that say to your team and to free agent Joe Johnson when you don’t upgrade your coach and you have a playoff team? The Lakers and Bulls hired championship caliber coaches to get to the next level. The Nets a few years ago hired Byron Scott to get them to the next level and made it to the championship game. Why not want to get better as a team? The goal for all NBA team’s is to win a title, right? At least hire an experienced or credible coach (Jeff Van Gundy, Byron Scott, Lawrence Frank, or Ty Corbin)? I wonder if some people are just Hawks fans,but not really NBA basketball fans because there comments are not basketball knowledgeable. Just hire a good coach!! It isn’t rocket science!
drmaryb
June 9th, 2010
8:09 pm
A great man once said:
The mark of a great leader
Is one who hires people smarter than him
And has the wisdom to let them do their job
-arthur unknown-
ASG let Sund do his job!
N. D. T. K. A.
June 9th, 2010
8:16 pm
Are rumors facts? Why not want to go to your home town and coach? Avery could have been hired on the second or third interview. Don’t make excuses for these guys! Waiting means not spending, not really caring about fans, not going to pay market value, not really wanting to win a championship, but getting a healthy return on investment!
Stuart
June 9th, 2010
8:20 pm
Casey, b/c he is new, and Jackson shouldn’t be coaching yet. But if you can keep Drew as an assistant (and maybe even get Jackson as an assistant if he’d consider it) that would be a huge plus..
darrell starks
June 9th, 2010
8:25 pm
This is crazy stuff ASG interview A. J. 3 time with no intention at all in hiring the guy wow!!!!!!
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 9th, 2010
8:28 pm
ASG was trying 2 be cheap all a long there for i will be cheap with my money 2.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
drmaryb
June 9th, 2010
8:28 pm
Lewis
Re: Dwayne Casey the Cheater?
Bill Bilichek-sp said it BEST: If you ain’t cheating? You ain’t trying!
They all cheat: from Stern down to the Refs down to the Floppers (so called taking charges!)
Cheaters WIN & Winners CHEAT!