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
lance
June 10th, 2010
9:42 am
This is just another example of how unorganized the Hawks organization is. How can you let a proven coach, one that won a championship ring as a point guard who could develop your top draft pick go without even extending him an offer? Now I am starting to see why the Sonics are now the OKC Thunder. Rick and owners wake up, you just let the best coach you interviewed go to an organization in worse shape then yours. in the NBA – a quality, proven coach attracts quality and proven players.
Big Ray
June 10th, 2010
9:49 am
drmaryb ,
That clown messing with me was actually not cdog , it was Truth Serum .
At least he’s not serious most of the time. Truth Serum likes to have fun and act up (don’t we all sometimes?)
Cdog is a whole other deal altogether. Tried to keep it light with dude, but he just can’t deal with it. Oh well, scrolling on as you said…greener pastures ahead…
Big Ray
June 10th, 2010
9:50 am
CP ,
As usual, you were right.
Well, back to the emergency of the day…
lewis
June 10th, 2010
9:57 am
dwane casey hired later today or tomorrow
hope i’m right
Westurd
June 10th, 2010
10:09 am
This sucks……..enough said. Its hard to be excited about our options? Jackson…are you kidding me? You don’t turn a 53 win team over to someone with zero, yes zero, coaching experience.
JASon
June 10th, 2010
10:12 am
The choices are very uninspiring. I wish we could get Doc. Otherwise I don’t see the hawks getting past the threshold that they have been at for the past two seasons.
JoJo the Godfather
June 10th, 2010
10:13 am
Wasn’t Sekou a big Larry Drew fan, or was that just in case Woodson was fired mid-season? Seems like he thought Drew would bring an up-tempo style of play.
Ramon
June 10th, 2010
10:42 am
Am I the only one who refreshes ajc.com like 8 times a day (while at work) to see if the Hawks finally named a coach?
dd3825
June 10th, 2010
10:58 am
Why is Byron Scott not being mention as coach for the Hawks? He’s a proven winner as a head coach, has he done sometime wrong?
ant banks
June 10th, 2010
11:08 am
BIG RAY, DRMARYB ET AL,
don’t get to pissed at ASG, avery could have been usin’ them to leverage his way wit’ the nets. AVERY could have been playin’ both sides of the fence to see which team would give him the most money. if the nets felt like no other team wanted avery, they would have low balled him.
if avery can say, “hey, i have had 3 interviews wit’ the hawks. they are about to sign me.” the nets coulda panicked and up the ante by 500k and get their man.
ASG may not be at fault here
Ken Strickland
June 10th, 2010
11:12 am
This is for all of the Avery Johnson fanatics who blame RSund for him not being hired. First, you have to be totally delusional, with a hint of stupidity, to think it was RSund’s decision, and not AJohnson’s, to accept the Hawks position. Rick certainly demonstrated his strong interest in wanting Avery.
The problem was, after his hometown Hornets showed no interest in him, he targeted the New Jersey HC position as his top priority. He agreed to 3 interviews with the Hawks just to make it look as though he was serious about us. His ultimate objective was to force the Nets to make a quick decision, and it worked. In other words, he used our major interest in him to get the job he really wanted.
If the Hornets had shown any real interest in him, he probably would have used the Nets and their interest in him in the same manner. I’M SO GLAD HE DIDN’T COME HERE. I am pretty certain there’s a stalemate between who Sund wants and who certain owners want. Sund is now experiencing what BKnight had to deal with, except ownership inter-feared with who BK wanted to fire.
Any HC we hire will be a vast improvement over Woodson if he isn’t afraid to:
(1) make changes, adjustments and employ strategy,
(2) develop and utilize young talent,
(3) give a damn about the OFF
(4) install and implement an actual half court OFF,
(5) be intelligent enough NOT to rely on the NBA’s worst starting PG,
(6) be intelligent enough to recognize the need to get more production from MWilliams,
(7) effectively develop and utilize the talent on his bench,
(8) recognize the importance of keeping his starters fresh and ready to make a strong push in the 4th quarter or gms and playoffs.
(9) allow outside input, especially from his coaching staff.
(10) understand the importance of giving his players OFF/DEF options, rather than always barking at them and saying they need to try or play harder.
How can anyone with a clue believe that resolving these issues will somehow set this team or franchise back and force us into a total collapse? We also have to keep in mind that Larry already has a relationship with JJ, and hiring him as our HC could possibly enhance our chances of resigning JJ.
drmaryb
June 10th, 2010
11:14 am
ddd-house
Watch yourself! We are ALL speculating honey! That’s what bored bloggers do!
I have about as much of a chance of being right as you do! Slim to None!
You don’t have a clue what anybody is doing and neither do I!
So, do me a favor! Go sell CRAZY some place else – I’m all stocked up here!
ant banks
June 10th, 2010
11:26 am
KEN,
my point exactly!!!
ryan
June 10th, 2010
11:29 am
Bryon Scott will take the Cleveland to keep LeBron James.
truthspitter
June 10th, 2010
11:32 am
Hawks suck goatballs,dumb slave owners are our management
drmaryb
June 10th, 2010
11:33 am
Ken Strickland
Exactamente! Co-Sign that ISH & Amen Bruh! 11:12 PM Editorial!
Hello ddd-House….go back and read Ken S. That’s what a REAL blogger do! Make logical and well thought out statements based on deductive reasoning skills! Unfortunately, for you – you haven’t lived long enough to experience some things. Wisdom, comes with age and lessons learned. Hang in there, you’ll get here someday. real soon.
Meanwhile, keep rooting for the Home team Hawks! -smile-
Ant Banks
Thanks for the words of encouragement! Actually, i was NEVER warm to Avery & am certainly NOT a fan of his. I really don’t have a strong opinion about who the coach will be – I have always supported whoever it is.
I liked Terry Stotts, Lon Kreuger, et.al.
I am more concerned with the discord amongst ALL these 25 owners! One is in Russia, the Evil -One is in Boston, and only Lord knows where all the other ones are? What I do know, is they are NOT on the same page and appear to be very dysfunctional to say the very least.
I’m just sayin’ – “Ant Baby-Banks”. (Ants in my pants!). LOL!
Grandad
June 10th, 2010
11:34 am
drmaryb:
Now to pour your glass full of cherry-cider.
lewis is right, Casey will be named HC later today.
ASG & Mr Sund were debating (ahem) whether to hire
Avery or Casey. Mr. Sund by all rights should win,
because it’s his job. ASG has a voice but bottom line
they hired RS to do his job. If by some chance
[Drew or Jackson] get the job it will b a compromise.
Thus I’m pulling for Casey as they hired Sund to do a job.
People criticize Mr. sund and his decisions (in the past)
when we don’t always know the back-ground and how many time
owners interfered.
Also bad draft picks – how many times was he perhaps acquiescing
to his coach who may have been begging for a certain player.
This dissertation may seem a rationalization, which it is, or not.
It can be whatever you choose to believe.
My glass is half full of “sweet tea” every day. *(post Woody)
whatever you choose.
Nonetheless, I’m fired up to hear the news, so our new coach
can start re-recruiting Joe & maybe others [?].
New – vision / philosophy / concepts / methods / & teaching.
But most of all a new beginning w/o starting over.
Amen !
truthspitter
June 10th, 2010
11:38 am
Casey should not be hired, he is not best candidate, Laimbeer, Michael Cooper, Byron Scott have proven they are better and are all out there. Mark Jackson would bring fresh ideas and Larry Drew has inside knowledge of team. Casey is absolute worse candidate
Melvin
June 10th, 2010
11:42 am
To add to all these Avery Johnson conspiracy theories, what if he decided to accept the Nets job b/c the Hawks were dragging their feet with an offer or never made an official offer to him? Why would he need to use the Hawks as leverage for the Nets job when it was reported that he was the preferred choice by the Nets new owner. Johnson had 3 reported interviews with the Hawks; I find it hard to believe that he was not serious about wanting to coach in ATL. It would be mind bogging to me that he would choose to coach a team that won less than 20 games over a team that finished 3 in its conference and won 53 games if he had the option to coach either. I think this is more about the Hawks not wanting to hire Johnson than it is about Johnson using them as leverage.
Grandad
June 10th, 2010
11:50 am
cdog:
“wow,drmaryb why the harsh language?”
I know where you’re comin’ from. (in good time)
Now leave her alone. Be nice,
your not old enough to chide – ‘drmaryb’.
You leave my Gran-baby to me.
N.D.T.K.A.
June 10th, 2010
11:51 am
I am not arguing or mad about Avery Johnon. I just hate when people try to reason that he is not a good coach. When we use logic we look at records and evaluate performance. We look at the type of people who trained or mentored the coach. So when I hear someone trash Avery and his coaching ability for coaches who have proven nothing that is kind of illogical. But I digress, Avery coaches the Nets, my dissapointment is in the fact that the Hawks whoever that may be (Rick Sund, ASG, Gearon, or whoever) have really dissappointed fans by not making a stronger move to bring in someone who will get J.J. excited and resigned. Someone who will motivate, teach, and excite our young team. Someone who will attract free agents to Atlanta. Make the fan base excited and motivated to come to games. Have a great day fans. I have two exams today. Go Hawks!!!
Dean
June 10th, 2010
11:59 am
Hey ASG…please, please, please hire Mark Jackson. We could use a little charisma on the sideline!
ddd-house
June 10th, 2010
12:10 pm
Melvin: thank you, you hit the point. that is what i have been trying to tell people on here, why would he wast his time and do three interviews if he didn’t want the job. the hawks had weeks to offer him the job before the nets came in picture and after the nets came into the picture, the hawks requested a 3rd interview. and he only had one interview with the nets.
drmaryb: you keep saying he wanted to market himself, he only had one team after him for months and that was the hawks and nets came in at the last hour
terrell
June 10th, 2010
12:21 pm
Dr. Mary B, Belichek denied that he was cheatin. He never said “if you aint cheatin you aint trying”. Come on now.
drmaryb
June 10th, 2010
12:21 pm
Grand-Daddy RULES!
I LOVE my Grand-Daddy! He’s got my back-side & I got his back – like a Bobby Knight tight red sweater!!
Whooppee!
Hey G-Daddy, I actually agreed with everything cdog is saying – I have no idea what he’s talking about with me? Too much typing & not enough reading comprehension going on there. LOL!
Hey, we’re just having fun! This blog is for entertainment purposes ONLY.
terrell
June 10th, 2010
12:24 pm
dd3825, I mentioned Byron weeks ago. Only thing I can think of is wanting too much $$$$$$$, and the ASG aint payin it.
Grandad
June 10th, 2010
12:26 pm
drmaryb – I hope I filled your glass @ 11:34 – ?
ToeKnee
June 10th, 2010
12:42 pm
I think that the Gearons are pushing for Larry Drew in an effort to keep JJ, they consider hm this team’s superstar. They’ve always liked JJ and Woodson so I think they want to make Drew the coach to help convince Joe to stay, which it very well could.
Rick on the other hand wants Casey. Hiring Drew doesn’t guarantee Joe will stay and Rick does not want to get burned by a player again like Childress did him his first year here. He can see this team eventually getting better without Joe Johnson and wants to hire a coach he likes not dependent on the current makeup of the team.
buddy
June 10th, 2010
12:43 pm
HIRE MARK JACKSON>>>>>>>>NOW! He was a solid point guard, he has great knowledge of the game, and he WILL be the next Doc Rivers. Dont understand all the hype over avery johnson…His team choked away a 2 game lead in the finals against the heat! If we dont hire Jackson….someone else will and we Will regret it. Lets go Hawks…Get something right…FOR ONCE! Casey, Drew, Really? That does nothing to excite the players or the fan base!!!
cdog
June 10th, 2010
12:47 pm
DRMARYB, I THOUGHT THIS WAS A SPORTS BLOG NOT AN ENGLISH GRAMMAR CLASS, YOU AND SPORTS DON’T MIX
drmaryb
June 10th, 2010
12:49 pm
ddd-house
Move on baby! You have no IDEA what you’re talking about! Thank God Avery is NOT coming here!
Any decent job anywhere gives multiple interviews for 1st, 2nd & 3rd level management.
New Jersey was Avery’s choice all along! You can not make someone work for you?
Georgia is an “At Will State” face it ddd-house, we have way too many owners to please around here.
Casey was the #1 Choice here all along – from Day 1. Probably 2 years ago, when Sund arrived.
We will NEVER really know, but it certainly seems that way!
Avery has a personality disorder, & was NEVER my choice. He & Byron Scott, have NO
Interpersonal skills, they wear on the players and are severe micro-managers.
Have you ever worked a job where you were micor-managed by a Type A personality?
I have and it sucks! And, I quit that job & went back to school to become an entrepreneur! I WIN!
I think Casey will be perfect for this team! We don’t need Whips and Chains to coach our team!
Have you heard ONE player endorse Avery? Name just ONE and post a link to your qoute! And don’t re-post Anthony Johnson unless you want to kill your argument for Avery!
Casey has several ringing player endorsements! Kevin Garnett for one.
OK, ddd-house – Baby, I am done beating that dead horse and BTW no one cares what you are trying to tell them. We people, have our own opinions to share. We real bloggers could care less if you or anyone else agrees with us! We really could care less! & like Joe Johnson – I’m GONE!
NDTKA
If Avery was so great? Why did Mark Cuban fire him after 24 months & pay him 3 additional years to NOT come to work? His pay ended this year, so now he’s going back to work.
The Dallas players ran his irritating but right out of town.
You and I could have won with a MVP Dirk & a 2x MVP Nash, et. al.
It takes more than a winning record to keep a job – obviously.
ddd-house
June 10th, 2010
12:58 pm
drmaryb: last thing and we can move on. AJ and B-Scott got their team to finals. that all i am saying. we can get out of the 2nd round, hell we can’t even win a game in the 2nd round.
buddy
June 10th, 2010
12:58 pm
I agree with you drmaryb…GLAD we didnt make the stupid mistake of hiring avery johnson…Jackson will develop teague and bring some life to this franchise…GET IT DONE!
drmaryb
June 10th, 2010
1:00 pm
Cdog
Thank the Lord for you, this is not a grammar class. If it were? You couldn’t get in.
Now, hey … There’s a thought? They will let just about anybody blog on here – oh well, sucks being me!
SMH
Spanking the kids is rich – so much fun!
ddd-house
June 10th, 2010
1:01 pm
drmaryb: what has Casey done, what do you see that we don’t see
JC
June 10th, 2010
1:05 pm
Buddy, if you’re sold on Jackson, you should google Quinn Buckner. For every Doc Rivers, there are 10 Quinn Buckners. Knowledge of the game does not translate into the ability to coach.
drmaryb
June 10th, 2010
1:11 pm
Terrell
(Don’t call me Te-Relle!)
Yes he did say that. The Rams said he cheated, so it must be true. ROF & LOL
You know he did it….come on now.
Grand-Daddy
Yes Sirrr… My eyeballs are floating! Man, this blog is on like popcorn today – the last 24 hours has been knock – down, bare knuckles & no holds barred – in a cage fight!
But, at the end of the day! We fans and bloggers ALL want the same thing – A WINNER!
We don’t always agree – but, that is a good thing!
And, BTW – I only attack people who attack my character! Don’t hate the player – Hate the game!
I don’t care who agrees with me – but, if call me out of my name? I will bust you in the eye-ball!
There is one exception – My Grand-Daddy! He can do NO wrong & he is ALWAYS right!
buddy
June 10th, 2010
1:17 pm
JC….I dont disagree with you…but, If your knowledge of the game is what I think it is, then you know that Jackson was much more successful as a player and a LEADER than your boy buckner…Im well aware of who Quinn Buckner is but can you honestly compare the two? cmon!
What will you say 5 years from now if Jackson is the next doc?
Grandad
June 10th, 2010
1:17 pm
drmaryb:
“Have you ever worked a job where you were micro-managed by a Type A personality?”
Have you ever been micro-managed by;
your two immediate administrators:
* (1) a mo-ron
and
* (2) a jack-ass
“Don’t ever rassle with a hawg,
’cause you get all muddy,
and besides,
the hawg likes it”
‘Don Meyer’ (retired B-ball coach, espy winner)
Moral of my story:
I retired.
Who won / who lost ??? to be decided ?
cdog
June 10th, 2010
1:25 pm
WHO CARES ABOUT THAT DRMARYB, SO WHAT?YOU ARE THE SMART ONE ON THESE BLOGS.YOU’RE SO SMART UNTIL YOU’RE DUMB.APPARENTLY YOU CAN READ AND I CAN WRITE BECAUSE YOU DEFINITELY UNDERSTOOD WHAT I WROTE.MY ADVICE, LEAVE SPORTS ALONE.FIND SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE YOU AND RICK SUND DON’T HAVE A CLUE.
drmaryb
June 10th, 2010
1:32 pm
ddd-house
Go back and read lewis post from: June 6, 2010. It should be on page 1 on this blog. He re-posted it from this past Sunday morning. He researched (I know that’s a foreign concept to some & I am way too lazy to research on my own), but we have the best BLOG I’m the world – right here with MC & Blue-Ray!
Our veteran bloggers are research KINGS & we are accustomed to well thought out logical connversations based on STATS and FACTS and not EMOTIONS! I knew nothing of Casey until I read lewis’s post!
It was fantastic and very informative, factual and impressive. Lewis took it back to 1987 – 1988 ( Casey’s college history). Please go back and check it out!
Dennis Scott was just on 790 the Zone this past hour & He (a great player – who played against Avery), does NOT endorse AVERY – whatsoever, either! Everybody can’t be wrong! Trust me – we do NOT want Avery here!
Casey is hands-down the safest hire from the 3 finalists – whom have no HC experience.
Even, if he doesn’t work (which I doubt), he’s the most qualified available to us!
All the other Fantasy hires out here – are just that, a Fantasy! (I.E. Doc, Phil Jackson, et.al.)
Not so casual observer
June 10th, 2010
1:34 pm
If you fail to re-sign a coach who wins 53 games there should be a clearly superior option. The Hawks have not identified a coach who is obviously better than Mike Woodson. Hopefully we have not been given every coach under consideration.
There is no evidence Jackson, Johnson or Casey is a better coach than Woodson. The Hawks must sign a “name” coach or risk losing the fan base developed by the steady improvement over the past 3 years.
Anyone remember when the Falcons fired a successful coach in order to “move to the next level”. The Falcons acutally moved more than one level – DOWN!
drmaryb
June 10th, 2010
1:37 pm
Grand-Daddy
You WON! Hands Down!!! You bring so much to this blog (the moderator!), we are ALL so lucky to have you on here! On the Daily! Who needs to read an old rag newspaper? We got you to keep us informed about what really matters! SPORTS!
Mmmmmwah! Mmmmmmwah!
drmaryb
June 10th, 2010
1:44 pm
Buddy
I would be fine with Mark Jackson too. Larry Drew doesn’t scare me either.
Casy is extremely poslished and very classy from all that I have read thsi past week!
In fairness to Casey, he has a respectable HC record and was fired in jest & per Kevin Garnett, prematurely.
By all accounts, his firing was a – premature ejaculation. (We all – boys & girls know how frustrating that can be). ROF & LOL!
cdog
June 10th, 2010
2:03 pm
DRMARYB, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU.I WAS WRONG FOR CALLING YOU NAMES.PLEASE FORGIVE ME.THIS WAS ALL IN FUN.THATS WHATS THIS SUPPOSE TO BE ABOUT.YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD AND A BEAUTIFUL PERSON.HOPE YOU CAN FORGIVE ME.
terrell
June 10th, 2010
2:21 pm
Dr. Mary, link please. Belichek denied it the whole time.
drmaryb
June 10th, 2010
2:26 pm
GNATS!
Just pulled into Ace Hardware …
Mr. Ace: “Welcome to Ace Hardware, may I help you?”
drmaryb: “Yes Sir, I need a pesticide.”
Mr. Ace: “What are you trying to get rid of?”
drmaryb: “GNATS! I have this annoying GNAT problem that keeps buzzing in my ear, and it just won’t go away? Something about – CDOG is in the house.”
Mr. Ace: “Well, is it a GNAT or a DOG?”
drmaryb: “Well it smells like a dog, but it looks like a GNAT.”
Mr. Ace: “Well, I see your problem – I have a solution, but it’s not cheap.”
drmaryb: “I don’t care how much it cost, I’ll pay dearly.”
Mr. Ace: “Here it is, it’s called, GNAT – B – GONE! It sells for $49.99 plus tax.”
drmaryb: “I’ll take it.”
Leaving the store and flying home in my – Porsche Carrrera (midnight black 2010). Zoom…Zooom …Zoom!
Aaaah! Life is Good! GNAT – B – GONE!
Next real blogger – puh..lease!
O'Brien
June 10th, 2010
2:37 pm
MC,
You had the opinion that the Hawks would have their coaching search wrapped up by Wednesday or Thursday. I assume you meant Wednesday or Thursday this week. Since it’s Thursday, do you have anything you can add about our coaching search?
I know its not a race, but 4 teams have hired their coach before the Hawks. And it doesnt sound like any of them required the multiple interviews with multiple people that the Hawks are doing.
I wonder if the perception of the Hawks league-wide is that they take long to make a decision due to multiple owners?
drmaryb
June 10th, 2010
2:44 pm
Cdog
I Love you man! I am having so much fun with all you guys! I have three big brothers and my Dad owned a chain of barber shops in Jamacia Queens New York!
I grew up in the barber shop waiting for my dad to make money – so, I could take it and run to the Mall!
I grew up listening to guys talk about everything from SPORTS (mainly boxing), to Vietnam, to women! I heard some stuff no little girl should hear! Those were the best Saturdays of my life!
It made me love men! Women, not – so – much! LOL! I feel at peace and at home, when you guys let me come here & live in your world! This blog takes my mind off of the real world troubles & politics!
This is in its purest form – ENTERTAINMENT! It beats alcohol & drugs by a land-slide!
Tuesdays & Thursdays are my OFF-DAYS from patients and work! I admitt, I do need to go now and pay some bills! But, cdog – if I go 12 rounds with you? That means I’m having Fun!
But, keep in mind…. I FIGHT DIRTY! I chunk rocks, throw sand in your eyes, I bite ears – and, oh yeah!
I EAT KIDS! (They call me Iron – Mary!). ROF & LOL!
Peace to the cdoggie-dog!
cdog
June 10th, 2010
2:47 pm
drmaryb, this no joke from me.i do apologize to you.i was wrong.if you don’t accept it i will understand.i ask you to forgive mei should not have continued to chastise you when i saw you was annoyed.that was childish on my part.i’m very sorry.