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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
601 comments Add your comment
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 18th, 2012
5:18 pm
Just Lethal!
“The ASG give Timothy McVeigh a run for his money.” – unknown -
_________
Wasn’t Timothy McVeigh put down with a shot in the azz? He’s gone bye-bye.
Slimjr
May 18th, 2012
5:21 pm
ob, PLAYING IN THE EASTERN CONF. HELPS THE HAWKS CAUSE THEIR A 9TH OR 10TH SEED OUT WEST FOR SURE……
THEY’D LOSE BY 30 A NIGHT AGAINST THE SPURS!
MikeH
May 18th, 2012
5:21 pm
The Hawks just Shat in their bed…
Supreme Grand Poobah
May 18th, 2012
5:23 pm
It’s deja vu all over again.
AG
May 18th, 2012
5:39 pm
I cannot believe it, but I am okay with the move. LD has grown a lot over two seasons. I hope he will continue to grow. He does show he will make changes when necessary (benching Marvin – then playing Marvin in critical game 5 & 6 when KH was struggling). We will never agree with everything he does, but I think he will continue to grow.
W.R. Terrell
May 18th, 2012
5:40 pm
Another year of whatever.
LakeDawg
May 18th, 2012
5:42 pm
I like Larry Drew personally and he is an upgrade over Woodson, but he is a mediocre coach at best. This signals that the Hawks are continuing down the same path. Next we will hear that they are keeping the roster intact.
Slimjr
May 18th, 2012
5:43 pm
Yeah he’s grown into 28-47..
Slimjr
May 18th, 2012
5:44 pm
Lacsho
May 18th, 2012
5:45 pm
Lame Duck
GM JeJe- your previous post about the hawks future was on point.
AG
May 18th, 2012
5:48 pm
Slimjr., I was very critical of LD last season. At least he has shown me his is willing to try different things to achieve a different result. He did not show me that last season (that is only reason why we have KH).
Next season, the team will evolve a little more around JT. A consistent outside shooter at SF will help us greatly. I am really excited about the changes we are going to make. I know, close only matters in horse shoes, but I think we can make it.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
May 18th, 2012
5:50 pm
We have been making fantasy trades for 4 years and the Hawks still refuse to make a major move. Give it up yall. We are going to have the same team going into the next season.
Brownie
May 18th, 2012
5:53 pm
Gotta look at the bigger picture on this move. ASG has been trying to sell the team for some time now to stop the financial bleeding – last year it got very public and they couldn’t pull it off. So they make noise about their commitment to the Hawks/Atlanta/blah, blah, blah.
They WILL sell this team prior to next season, so with that in mind why bring in a new GM and coach? The new owners can live with the first year with what’s there, and then begin working on bringing in their guys. the new ownership will make more aggressive personnel moves on the court and the bench/front office.
This team as currently constructed is NOT championship caliber, and ASG knows it.
Have a little patience and you’ll see huge changes – can’t guarantee they’ll be good changes or lead to a championship….but they will be changes, which is great. Status quo is mediocre at best – not good enough to win big, too good to get a stud in the lottery draft.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
May 18th, 2012
5:54 pm
I heard somewhere Golden State wanted Josh Smith for Monta Ellis. If its true we should have made that trade.
I.MUS WRITE
May 18th, 2012
5:56 pm
Bussiness as usual ball’n on a budget. These monkeys we have for owners are content with mediocrity. LD isnt a bad coach but he sure doesnt seem like a leader of men. I guess Jerry Sloan- Brian Shaw had better things to do. We all knew LD would be back its the Atlanta Hawks way…….
I just hope we can get a quality player if josh is traded…….Whats his worth?
donte080
May 18th, 2012
5:57 pm
That would have been a horrible trade. Monta Ellis was horrible after being traded from GS to Milwaukee. Thank goodness Hawks didn’t make that trade.
I.MUS WRITE
May 18th, 2012
5:59 pm
Dawg
May 18th, 2012
4:33 pm
Wow, feel the electricity in the air, oh the anticipation of another offseason on waiting till all vets can be signed for the minimum.
Link
Report this comment
Lol…..Like I said bro its the Atlanta Hawks way, I expect nothing in the off season. Sad….
ryan
May 18th, 2012
6:00 pm
I knew nothing will change ASG CHEAP , CHEAP , CHEAP don’t expect any big name free agents ether prepare for a boring summer folks Atlanta sports sucks .
I.MUS WRITE
May 18th, 2012
6:03 pm
Grandad -The girls at strokers said hello….. Peaches and Six Two said they miss you…..” I make it rain up in here son”……*Grandad*
59bulldawg
May 18th, 2012
6:04 pm
Well he’s done better than any other Hawks coach recently. But then again that ain’t saying. Except for your fooball coach, what is it about pro sports in Atlanta that attracts douche bag owners?
xfan
May 18th, 2012
6:05 pm
Time the BS stops..hawks are happy to always be 2nd best. Owners suck and like Mark Bradley said its time for a GM and Head Coach change. However owners to damn stupid to see it.
Admirable SnAckBar
May 18th, 2012
6:06 pm
after watching DWade last night I don’t feel too bad about our team anymore.
I.MUS WRITE
May 18th, 2012
6:07 pm
Spurs in 5…….Pacers in 6……..OkC in 6……..Boston in 7……
Spurs > OKC………6 games
Pacers> Boston…..7 games
Pacers < Spurs…..6 games
SPURS NBA CHAMPS………………………………………….
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
May 18th, 2012
6:09 pm
Josh is gone after this season. We should have got something for him while we could.
ryan
May 18th, 2012
6:09 pm
Why can’t Author Blank own all teams in Atlanta at least the Falcons spend some money .
soullrenaissance
May 18th, 2012
6:11 pm
WOW. MC, do you relish in being the bearer of BAD NEWS. First the the report the Josh Smith is tsill eyeing greener pasteurs, to the bleak roster/salary outlook to this LD return. He is overmatched and his presence is underwhelming. They should have solidified the GM quagmire first. The inept basturds at the ASG have to fold the tents and walk away. Its sad that LD did not argue that bs call at the end of game 6. Incompetent simpletons
Ray
May 18th, 2012
6:12 pm
I think the Hawks had a good year– considering the injuries. Losing Horford 13 games into the season and they still finished with 40 wins– with a patched up lineup.
Everyone talks about how we should have won game 2 against the Celts with Rondo out– and yes it was a missed opportunity. But you seem to forget that Josh was injured in the 3rd quarter of that game and left when we still had the lead. If Josh wasn’t hurt– I thin we would have won. Josh was also out for game three against the Celts– and we lost on the road in OT in another close game.
Drew deserves another year… ask Doc Rivers– he was sweating bullets about that series. All the games were very close except for the game 4 blow-out. Plus Horford came back and looked great. If Zsa-Zsa was healthy we would have won the series. But injuries are part of the game; just bad luck for the Hawks this year. Ask Chicago and D-Rose!
I’ll give the Hawks another chance with this crew. They didn’t roll over and play dead! They fought all the way down to the end. Part of that is coaching!
soullrenaissance
May 18th, 2012
6:16 pm
I am sick of mediocre – this is a dayum sports city but the ASG just does not give hoot about excelling. We are carved out to be a ‘filler’ team, not the ‘meat and potatoes” teams that are battling now. What’s sad is we are not that far off but a couple of shrewd moves here or there and real coaching away from contending.
steven a smith
May 18th, 2012
6:22 pm
Larry Drew is not the worst coach in the NBA. However, the Atlanta Hawks need more of a “ship builder.” Larry can guide the ship, but he cannot build one,
redandblackpeachy
May 18th, 2012
6:26 pm
I am done. I am in shock. Proof positive the Hawks ownership/management is not serious.
cleon
May 18th, 2012
6:37 pm
This ownership group is just re-applying band-aids until they can sell the team.
DawgNole
May 18th, 2012
6:39 pm
We all knew it was coming–the same ol’ same ol’ plus the injuries excuses. I guess seeing it “officially” announced kind of brings home what we all dreaded with a thud.
Forty-four years and counting.
Harpie
May 18th, 2012
6:49 pm
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I’ve watched my last Hawks game. Larry Drew is an idiot, and the worst coach in the game of basketball!
benjamin
May 18th, 2012
7:14 pm
I am trying to get 50,000 Hawks fan to join me in buying into the team. $2000 a piece will give us a $100 million. The Atlanta Hawks is worth $295 million. I believe we should be like the Green Bay Packers and find a way to buy this team away from the Atlanta Spirit. We as fans can come together,it only takes 50,000 Hawks fan to join me in buying into the team. $2000 a piece will give us a $100 million. Then we find another investor to join us. The Atlanta Hawks is worth $295 million.
kwooden
May 18th, 2012
7:22 pm
It sound like this was their plan all the way. I like the move if vet coachs like Larry Brown and Sloan said no, these guys probably would’t do any better with a rookie coach. I think their next move is to get Sund for another season.
Slimjr
May 18th, 2012
7:33 pm
Betcha Josh walks just like JC1 and the Swans get zero in return…..
Hey at least their saving money? Huh?
Sautee
May 18th, 2012
7:35 pm
LOL @ benjamin, thinking that there ARE even 50,000 Hawks fans, much less 50,000 who have an extra 2 large to spare.
Ray
May 18th, 2012
7:46 pm
So where the hell is Gearon with his BS spin that only works on 4 year olds probably not even lol.
Waffle House or Bust
May 18th, 2012
7:47 pm
Please take this team to another city. I’m embarrassed to say I was a Hawks fan. Notice WAS? Done with these losers. I feel sorry for Al who deserves to be on a winning team. Next will be the announcement Josh Smith is coming back to the Highlight Factory. What a joke.
Buddy Grizzard
May 18th, 2012
8:09 pm
Hawks organization really proved to Josh Smith its commitment to winning a championship with that move.
yodaddybrother
May 18th, 2012
8:16 pm
Tragic
Sautee
May 18th, 2012
8:16 pm
“Hawks organization really proved to Josh Smith its commitment to winning a championship with that move.”
How do you know that? They may have ASKED Josh, and he said he wanted LD.
After all, LD gives Josh free rein, right? Even if he’s thinking of leaving, he could make more money on his next contract if he is the focus, and given free rein (assuming he stays until near the trade deadline). Can you imagine a new coach allowing Josh to do what he does with LD?
I can’t.
Slimjr
May 18th, 2012
8:18 pm
Spurs in 4 over Boston in the Finals!
Avg win: 25pts.
Slimjr
May 18th, 2012
8:19 pm
Buddy G got jokes! Hahahah
Rick James
May 18th, 2012
8:54 pm
@Mike
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
—————————————————————————————————————————
He had a full year of that lineup last season Mike.You cant be serious unless you’re a part of the Spirit group
jo
May 18th, 2012
8:58 pm
LD deserves one more year after success with a depleted team. Even Boston needed the refs. To help them to the next round. Good luck LD and Go Hawks!
Rick James
May 18th, 2012
9:00 pm
@Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
I heard somewhere Golden State wanted Josh Smith for Monta Ellis. If its true we should have made that trade.
————————————————————————————————————————————-
I heard something to that effect too but I think the Hawks wanted to include Joe Johnson and Golden State said no..No need for Ellis and Johnson to be on the same team so I’m glad it never happened..Nobody in the NBA wants Joe Johnson’s contract,not even Atlanta.
DHD
May 18th, 2012
9:01 pm
I like tuttles.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 18th, 2012
9:08 pm
FTPB
“Cap space is overrated, especially in the case of the Hawks. We have a LOOOOOONG history of not getting top notch unrestricted free agents to come here. Cite whatever reason you want, they simply don’t come here for the most part. The last one I can think of is Dikembe ( unless you count re-signing JJ as an unrestricted free agent ).”
Top notch unrestricted free agents rarely come here because top notch players rarely become unrestricted free agents. The Hawks are no worse in that regard than pretty much every other NBA team other than Miami and New York. In fact, if you include sign-and-trades (which require a player’s consent every bit as much as free agent signing does), the fact that the Hawks have convinced two All Stars to come here puts them on par or higher than most NBA teams.
Boston built through trades (Allen, Garnett, Bass) and the draft (Pierce, Rondo, Bradley). The Lakers built through trades (Gasol, MWP) and the draft (Kobe, Bynum). San Antonio built through the draft (Parker, Ginobili, Duncan). The Mavs’ championship team was built through trades (Terry, Marion, Chandler) and the draft (Dirk). The Thunder, as we all know, have nailed the draft. The Clippers are built via the draft and trades. The Grizzlies, even with the pivotal free agent signings of Zach Randolph and Tony Allen, are otherwise built through the draft (Gay, Mayo, Conley) and trades (Gasol).
Miami and the Knicks, acquiring the building blocks of their teams primarily through unrestricted free agency and sign-and-trades, are very rare exceptions. The important thing with the above teams is that in order to improve their team via trades, they had to first acquire tradeable assets. Joe and Marvin are the exact opposite of tradeable, on their current contracts. If the Hawks can clear cap space by trading them (cap space being a tradeable asset in the form of a trade exception), that is a good move.
Ken Strickland
May 18th, 2012
9:21 pm
JUST JOE/KEVIN M-Thanks for the info. Changes must be made, but not drastic changes. We have no choice but to trade Josh Smith due his impending FA after the season, and his desire to go elsewhere. There’s little doubt that he’s worth more now than at any other time. He and Horford are our 2 of our most valuable assets.
Making the right trade for him could get us the Big we need, or the draft pick we need to get that Big. I was wrong about having JJ play SF. His lack of rebounding puts too much pressure on our C and PF. We desperately need a SF that’s capable of consistently scoring outside, finishing at the rim, and playing DEF.
If we can add that type of SF to Horford, JJ and Teague, teams won’t be able to consistently double JJ like Boston did. We need to maintain a solid, versatile bench, and get a scoring SF and DEF minded C. We can get a quality SF with our current 1st rd pick, and we could possibly bet a high enough 1st rd pick in trade for Josh to get a quality C in trade or through the draft.
Getting those 2 assets, plus bringing back Pargo, Johnson, and Green, to go with Teague, JJ, Marvin, Horford, and Zaza, would give us a very solid core of 10 players. Add another PG and Big to that mix, and we’d have a 12 man roster that could challenge for the Eastern Conference title.