Atlanta Hawks: Larry Drew to return as coach
The Hawks said they’ve exercised the option on coach Larry Drew’s contract for next season. The team signed Drew to a two-year contract with an option in 2010.
The Hawks have posted an 84-64 record with Drew as coach. They lost to Boston in the first round of the playoffs last week, ending a streak of three consecutive years in the second round. But the team’s owners and management cited the team’s 40-26 regular-season record as a success in light of several injuries to key players, including center Al Horford.
“Larry did an outstanding job this season in guiding our team to the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference, despite a condensed schedule and unfortunate injuries,” Hawks GM Rick Sund said in a statement released by the team. “The Hawks have reached the postseason in each of his years on the bench, and we feel Larry’s experience, expertise and dedication to the game were a key ingredient to our success.”
Sund’s contract expires next month. He’s been in talks with the team’s owners about re-signing but hasn’t committed to a return or publicly addressed his future. Sund’s other options include retirement or taking a part-time role with the Hawks or another team.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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601 comments Add your comment
Slimjr
May 18th, 2012
2:36 pm
Here’s a clue: The streak will continue!
44 years and counting……Yawn
2056
Dept. Of Unintended Irony
May 18th, 2012
2:37 pm
“Atlanta isn’t a basketball town so fans really don’t have a clue, unless the “Zen Master” or Jerry Sloan walks threw the door, Drew’s the man for this team.”
Which direction did they throw the door?
terrell
May 18th, 2012
2:46 pm
Tell me I’m dreaming? I knew they’d use the injuries as a reason to keep this clown. smmfgdh
northcyde
May 18th, 2012
2:47 pm
“Larry did an outstanding job this season in guiding our team to the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference, despite a condensed schedule and unfortunate injuries,” Hawks GM Rick Sund said in a statement released by the team. “The Hawks have reached the postseason in each of his years on the bench, and we feel Larry’s experience, expertise and dedication to the game were a key ingredient to our success.”
**********************
LOL . . you were saying Astro?
Just STFU Sund. Please STFU.
I guess next up will be Gearon, and his schizophernic, long-winded explanations on why the Hawks are still striving to get better.
leon
May 18th, 2012
2:48 pm
This is a very sad day for me… Not saying he is a bad coach, we just need a more accountable coach. A coach that will discipline these guys. I mean really!!!
terrell
May 18th, 2012
2:48 pm
This spells 1 and done for TMac.
northcyde
May 18th, 2012
2:49 pm
Where is that brilliant transcript that JeJe wrote the other day about the Hawks offseason? Sund’s comments would fit in right with that.
Next up . . . the selling of the draft pick.
terrell
May 18th, 2012
2:50 pm
I say we boycott Philips.
atlnative
May 18th, 2012
2:52 pm
Coach Drew,Thanks for returning to the Atlanta Hawks. If you can Stop Josh Smith from shooting three pointers,and let Jeff Teague break down the opposing defenses,this team can win about 57 wins a year.
northcyde
May 18th, 2012
2:53 pm
The Hawks are lucky that only about 5.000 people actually care about who the coach is. They just better hope that all 5,000 of them aren’t season ticket holders.
Rick James
May 18th, 2012
2:55 pm
This is how the Hawks will spin this…”Al Horford was out all season and with him we had a good play off series ith Boston.We should be better next year with Horford back for a full season so we have to give Larry credit for the job he did with what he had to work with” Translation,Larry Drew is cheap and we’re not spending money to upgrade.Getting knocked out the playoffs every year in the first or second round and getting mid round draft choices is fine with us.Think about it Hawk fans,the third best player on this team is amoung the highest paid players in the NBA.Which also happens to be whats wrong with Josh Smith’s attitude.This team has not done much that makes sense recently so why expect something different now.The next bone headed move will be trading Josh Smith since they chose not to hire somebody who can coach him..Just watch
northcyde
May 18th, 2012
2:55 pm
LOL @ Drew stopping Josh from taking jumpers. He encourages it.
1,053 jumpers from 16+ feet or more in the past 2 years under Drew. Add another 600 to that total, especially since Josh is the #1 offensive option on the team now.
Apple
May 18th, 2012
2:56 pm
LOL WTF
Apple
May 18th, 2012
2:58 pm
“This team either gets it done this year coming up, because if not we are looking at a complete overhaul of this roster”
LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Sautee
May 18th, 2012
2:58 pm
Another blown chance to rise above mediocrity. LD was an average coach. This bunch needs FAR more than that. FAR MORE.
JeJe, you missed by 6 days, LOL. I’d love nothing more than if NONE of your hilarious post comes true beyond this train wreck. But it’s much more likely that you were right on the money.
It’s so pitiful that we actually laugh, but I just have to wonder how different it COULD be, with a more competent Head Coach. We’ll only know when the idiots sell the team. If only…
Walt Frazier
May 18th, 2012
2:59 pm
The Hawks management is like electricity-they are have been taking an will continue to take: the shortest path of least resistance. They could care less what the fans think. They are in it, not to win it, but to keep the revenue stream flowing-with no boat rockers mucking it up. Give the dog a bone. Keep Larry, keep Marvin, Joe, Josh, etc. and trade the bench guys with the chump change left over.
doc
May 18th, 2012
2:59 pm
aj, way to slow for you today.
do you think he can be ready for the playoffs? heh heh
Slimjr
May 18th, 2012
3:02 pm
Hey northcyde? Whats Drew’s record against the winners his past two years? Any idea?
Eric
May 18th, 2012
3:02 pm
OK lets go hire Phil Jackson, trade Joe to Miami for Wade and Bosh, trade Josh and Marvin for D. Howard. Atlanta fans are living in a dream world, is that what you want to hear??? It ain’t happening, you got a good coach and some good players now build on that.
Mike
May 18th, 2012
3:05 pm
Atlanta did have the 5th best defense overall in the NBA this year, give Drew some credit the man can coach.
keepingitreal
May 18th, 2012
3:05 pm
Lowest paid coach in the league. What else did anyone expect.
Atlanta Thrashers Hockey Fan
May 18th, 2012
3:07 pm
How about the Thrashers?
Will they be returning?
Atlanta Thrashers Hockey Fan
May 18th, 2012
3:08 pm
Will those crooks posing as an “Ownership Group” be returning as well?
Slimjr
May 18th, 2012
3:08 pm
The man left T-Mac to rot on the bench [played 5 mins] in the critical game two against the Celtics and lost the home court and the series!
Oh yea he can coach alright..Perhaps a High School squad?
Astro Joe
May 18th, 2012
3:10 pm
northcyde, you do know that an outsourced PR manager wrote that Sund quote. Dude is somewhere trying to decide if he wants to maintain his NBA career and allowed his name to be used for that statement so it looks like he is still in charge. Didn’t Sund give Nate his first head coaching job in Seattle? It is VERY hard to believe that SUnd would make this decision without considering any available head coach. Sorry, I’m not blaming Sund for this one.
AlpharettaGuy
May 18th, 2012
3:12 pm
Congrats Hawks! With Drew returning and the ‘core’ players, Hawks will certainly win the championship next year. And Kansas City will win the World Series and Ron Paul will be elected president. Can’t wait!
KevinM
May 18th, 2012
3:14 pm
The guys happiest with this LD extension:
Collins / Green
These guys get to play another year in the league and still be millionaires.
Mike
May 18th, 2012
3:14 pm
Slimjr, I agree T-Mac was the best player all year he really would have made a difference probably could’ve dropped 35 on those shaky knees.
Sautee
May 18th, 2012
3:15 pm
slim, it’s 28-47. That’s 37.3% Not good.
Woody’s record vs. +500% teams: 83-181 That’s 31.5% Even worse.
Woody DID have 1 winning season vs. +500% in 09-10 when the Hawks went 25-20 vs. +500% teams. But that’s the year he lost them in the playoffs (to a historical result) and was not re-signed.
Astro Joe
May 18th, 2012
3:19 pm
Josh attended the initial press conference for Uncle larry. Talked about his role as peace-maker when he and Woody got tangled up. I think that Josh is likely happy about this also, and it may have been done (in part) as part of the sales job to keep Josh. LD’s willingness to unleash “Josh to be Josh” may help him earn an extra few millions on his next contract. LD encourages Josh to run the fast break, take jumpers, etc. LD named Josh a captain, even when it wasn’t yet clear that he was ready for that responsibility. Uncle Larry stays.
welikebaseball2
May 18th, 2012
3:20 pm
Well, there you have it folks. They’ll continue to use regular season wins & playoff appearances to justify the mediocrity. I can’t remember the last time Sund or ASG was quoted as saying their goal was to actually win a championship. Every offseason, it’s the “regular season wins” & “playoff appearances” garbage. Yep, they’ll ride that until the wheels fall off. Sickening.
Harry The Hawk
May 18th, 2012
3:21 pm
I like my coach, even though he looks like a drunk.
Astro Joe
May 18th, 2012
3:23 pm
Sautee, I assume that part of that record you quoted for Woody was during the early re-building process when he had to lean on guys like Antoine Walker, Kenny Anderson and Tony Delk. Me thinks LD inherited a slightly better roster than Woody had in his first 2 seasons.
Worst People in America
May 18th, 2012
3:24 pm
The ASG give Timothy McVeigh a run for his money.
SteveW
May 18th, 2012
3:24 pm
i wonder which 2nd pick we will sell next season to pay for LD’s slight raise? Surprised we didn’t start back over with Nick Van Exel or Conner for the 1m starting salary they gave LD.
Sautee
May 18th, 2012
3:25 pm
“The man left T-Mac to rot on the bench [played 5 mins] in the critical game two against the Celtics and lost the home court and the series!” – slimjr
slim do you see ANY irony at all with mentioning leaving T-Mac on the bench, when T-Mac WAS ON THE COURT for that now famous “poor rotation” that YOU claim lost the game and the series?
You want it both ways. You want to claim LD lost the game and the series for his poor rotation, and yet T-Mac WAS RIGHT THERE in the middle of that crucial segment. And now you’ll criticize LD for not using T-Mac more?
A little bit hypocritical I’d say. Though I would have loved to have seen T-Mac more, myself.
Slimjr
May 18th, 2012
3:27 pm
FTPB!
The Brilliant ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 17th, 2012
5:59 pm
“Hawks’ Summer 2012:
June 22: Rick Sund accepts job as GM of Portland Trailblazers. David Pendergraft is named the Atlanta Hawks GM.
Michael Gearon Jr: “We want to thank Rick Sund for his contributions to the Atlanta Hawks franchise. He is a very savvy and professional executive who really helped this team mature and grow through the years. We wish him nothing but the best”
June 24: Hawks pick up Larry Drew’s option.
July 3: A list of teams interested in JaVale McGee is reported, with the Hawks among them. The Hawks do not end up signing JaVale McGee.
July 5: A list of teams interested in Jason Terry is reported, including the Hawks. The Hawks ideally want Terry in a 6th Man role, but he shuns the Hawks, given how his prior stint with the franchise occurred.
July 6: Hawks sign Kirk Hinrich to $12 million/3 year contract.
David Pendergraft: “Kirk Hinrich has been an integral part of this franchise since we traded for him in February 2011. He has taken Jeff Teague under his wing and shown him the ropes of the game”
July 12: Joe Johnson on whether moves need to be made: “Nah man. What we got here is good. We just need to sign a few vets. We really kept our resolve this year, given all the injuries we had to endure.
July 14: Marvin Williams on his summer:
“Man I’ve just been at Chapel Hill. I just got a few semesters left until I get this African Studies Degree.
**MC: What aspects of your game are you working on this summer?
-Marvin: Just perimeter shooting in general. I need to become more reliable as a 3 point shooter also. I’m still working out with Sean May, and I even saw Raymond Felton drop by a few days ago
July 18: Michael Gearon Jr. interview with Michael Cunningham
**MC: What do you think about Joe’s performance on his contract so far?
-Gearon: I think he is still an elite shooting guard. Most people don’t know this, but Joe has had knee issues the last few years, and the fact he has insisted on playing shows he is a true warrior. That’s the funny thing about the NBA. Going into summer 2010, we had about 8 million in cap space if we let Joe go. So who do we go sign and still maintain our status as the 3 seed in the East if Joe leaves? Do we sign Bubba Jones off the street [Gearon laughs while MC looks at him curiously]?
**MC: What do you have to say to those who claim the team has taken a step back from last year?
-Gearon: That’s the funny thing about the NBA. You can overachieve in the regular season given what you have, and in the Playoffs, it’s a whole different animal. You look at the Dallas Mavericks. They won the Championship last year. They lost Tyson Chandler. They added the NBA’s 6th Man from last year. This year, they got swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder. We lost in 6 games to a team that has been elite for 5 years. We were the most injured Playoff team in the league this year. You cannot judge this team based off one Playoff series. We had a two-time All-Star who missed almost the entire regular season.
**MC: A lot of fans have the feeling that it’s the same drill every season and the ownership isn’t dedicated to winning – that this core has hit its ceiling
-Gearon: [Laughs]. Michael, you look at the Detroit Pistons, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Boston Celtics. Those main cores have been together for years. Have they been to the Finals every single year that their core has been together? An analogy I like to use is that you have to crawl before you walk. Josh and Al are just now entering their prime ages, and Joe is a 6x NBA All Star. You look at our Playoffs series against Boston. Going against 4 future Hall of Famers and a Hall of Fame coach, we played tremendous defense. We are always looking to build on what we did well and address what didn’t. Like, if I go to the same restaurant, let’s say ZaZa’s, and the service is lousy each time (God Bless ZaZa [chuckles]!), do I just quietly take the bad service every time I go? Let’s say the restaurant allows the patrons to fill out anonymous surveys. The key, Michael, is you always have to evaluate the situation and try to improve what’s good and address what’s bad. [MC thinks: "What the hell does that story have to do with anything?]
-Gearon: I know a lot of fans are upset about not winning a Championship this year, but so are 28 other teams. You look at Sacramento and Golden State. Those teams were last relevant when I HAD hair [chuckles]!
**MC: It’s been widely reported Josh Smith wants out. How do you plan on dealing with the situation?
-Gearon: I’ve known Josh and his family for so many years and it’s been incredible watching him grow up from a skinny high school kid all the way to a star in the NBA. He is the engine that keeps this team moving, especially with the injuries to several key guys this year. You look at LeBron James and you look at Josh Smith, and these are two very special players……[**notice how the question isn't actually addressed]
July 24: Larry Drew interview with Michael Cunningham
**MC: What changes do you hope to bring to this roster in terms of coaching this season?
-LD: We need to approach this season with a certain physicality. I noticed at times these last two seasons we did not display a certain sense of urgency, and if you do that in the NBA, it will be a long season.
**MC: Many people say that Josh Smith’s jumpshooting has been out of control, moreso than it was when Woodson was here. How do you plan to address this for the coming season?
-LD: ………um, well Josh has to recognize his role in the offense. He is so important to this team.
**MC: Do you have anything to say about Marvin or Horford? Marvin, one can say, had a dreadful first 4 games in the Boston series, and Joe really looked uninspiring at time in the regular season and playoffs.
-LD: No. Those guys are not allowed to be called out. It is clear that Teague and Josh Smith are the scapegoats for every problem this team has.
August 2: Hawks offer Ivan Johnson 1 year contract for the smallest possible amount. Ivan, seeing Pendergraft at the Hawks gym one morning, curses him out and has to be restrained by Anthony Johnson.
August 5: Hawks sign veteran guard Mike James to 1-year veteran minimum contract
August 11: Hawks sign veteran forward Darius Miles to 1-year veteran minimum contract
October 14: Hawks sign Matt Harpring as player development coach”
Beyond Funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A FREAKING MASTER PIECE!
Harry Hawk
May 18th, 2012
3:28 pm
At least he’s cheap.
SteveW
May 18th, 2012
3:29 pm
OB – You can get away with 14 m at the SF position, with a move which would strengthen it alot, because you would only have 8m at PG, and 7m at C.
This season, if you count the PG position as Teague/Pargo, it was only like 2.5m – our portion, the League pays the rest of Pargo’s salary.
But I was just tossing ideas out there. I still like Just Joe’s trade – he somehow had a 3-way deal worked out where the Hawks received picks #14, 16, and 18 for Josh, and we kept #23. Then if we could just draft correctly…
Sautee
May 18th, 2012
3:29 pm
“Sautee, I assume that part of that record you quoted for Woody was during the early re-building process when he had to lean on guys like Antoine Walker, Kenny Anderson and Tony Delk. Me thinks LD inherited a slightly better roster than Woody had in his first 2 seasons.”
No doubt, AJ, which is why I brought up the 09-10 season. However, I’m hoping that we never ever SEE LD’s 5th and 6th seasons.
O'brien
May 18th, 2012
3:30 pm
northcyde,
I hope you’ve stopped blaming fans who dont want to pay their money to go down to Phillips to see more of the same…
barney strickland
May 18th, 2012
3:30 pm
The Hawks made a smart move with Larry. Instead of looking for anew coach,We should be looking for a new GM !! …. no idiots like Billy King or someone who doesn’t even reside in Atlanta!! Get a Theo Epstein type…. young, smart and ambitious! We won;t find a good GM unless he can pick his own coach…hence, the 1 yr extension of Drew. As for our new GM..no more technocrat, balding, white guys who never played the game! Larry is OK…. he just needs one big man and some good B players like Pachulia and Ivan J. to round out his roster. LD got one year to proves he’s worth a long term deal and/or also the next GM’s man!! I say let the Man child Josh Smith go seek his fortune elsewhere and try to get a Lemarcus Aldridge type to fill the middle and complete out world class roster. Josh Smith should get us something good in trade …. especially in the draft! Oh, and before I forget…. Dump Marvin Williams!! NOW!! Please !!
Dawg
May 18th, 2012
3:32 pm
I can’t wait till we trade our #1 and #2 picks for cash in the upcoming draft. We may even draft someone who no one else will draft (pape sy).
Hey, let’s sign Collins again!
Slimjr
May 18th, 2012
3:32 pm
Larry Drew cannot overcome a ISO LOCKDOWN SPECIALIST..
Plain and simple..Got it? His St. Johns offense has too many holes….
O'brien
May 18th, 2012
3:32 pm
Look for Lester Connor, Tyrone Hill or Bob Bender to be the Hawks coach after next season (assuming ASG still owns the team).
KevinM
May 18th, 2012
3:35 pm
“Mike
May 18th, 2012
3:05 pm
Atlanta did have the 5th best defense overall in the NBA this year, give Drew some credit the man can coach.”
Hey Mike, where did the 5th best defense get Drew and his coaching this year?
Was is just a fluke that we did not play our best against Boston?
Was it a fluke we lost HC advantage against a Rondo-less Celtics team?
Just way too many excuses for where we ended up this year and where management said we would give this one more run in 2012. So what management really said was this is the 1st time we evaluated them on a one year basis and they are deserver another year.
Like 790 said today…..we’re just wasting everyone’s time.
This is the NBA’s version of Groundhog Day…..if you can’t see that, then there is no reasoning to try and wake you up.
Dawg
May 18th, 2012
3:36 pm
Why does the NBA allow teams to sell a draft pick for cash when it is obvious that they are merely trying to make more money and not win?
Slimjr
May 18th, 2012
3:37 pm
Hey we heard a rumor the Swans [investors/ownership] are strapped for cash?
Then why in the heck did they drop 2 million large on a freaking STEAK HOUSE?????????????????
SteveW
May 18th, 2012
3:37 pm
So let’s see – let’s say we do nothing – but draft maybe Arnett Moultrie out of MSU. Or Fab or Festus. Roster next season:
ZaZa
Al
Josh
JJ
Teague
Marvin
#23 pick.
62.4 m for 7 players. Got about 8 mill to spend on our last 6 players.
Ivan (I hope)
Need 3 G’s and a Wing.
1 more Big (If our 1st pick is a big).
Winning a Championship with that Roster? Doesn’t look promising, but I guess stranger things have happened.
Mike
May 18th, 2012
3:41 pm
No reason not to. Under Drew the Hawks have at least competed in the playoffs. Last year they beat Orlando in six, and lost to Chicago in six. They found Teague at PG in that Chicago series. They would have beaten Boston this year if Smith, Horford, and Pachulia werent injured. He needs a year where he can play with a full lineup of Teague, Smith, Horford, Johnson, and Hinrich/Williams.