Atlanta Hawks: Still no decision on GM Rick Sund’s return
Nearly three weeks after the end of the Hawks’ season, general manager Rick Sund’s future with the team remains up in the air.
Sund’s contract expires at the end of June and he’s had discussions with the team’s owners about re-signing. But Sund said today no agreement has been reached to return for a fifth season.
“We have had a little bit of discussion but we’ve been focusing so much on putting closure to the season,” Sund said. “Nothing has been resolved at this point. We will have some more discussions and then the process will play itself out at some point and time. I’m here until July 1.
“Have I thought about it? Yes. Have I focused on it? No, because we just have too much that had to be done here in the last two weeks.”
Sund is scheduled to leave tomorrow for the scouting event in Minneapolis. He said he also still has to conduct exit interviews with a couple players.
Sund declined to comment on the details of his discussions with Hawks owner or say which factors play a role in his decision.
“I’m not going to talk about it until the process plays itself out,” he said. “It will probably happen relatively soon.”
In addition to re-signing with the Hawks, Sund’s potential options include an advisory role with either the Hawks or another club. Sund, who turns 61 next week, also could opt for retirement.
Sund replaced Billy Knight in 2008. The Hawks had their streak of second-round playoff appearances snapped at three with the loss to Boston.
Sund described Atlanta’s regular season as “unbelievably great” in light of the significant injuries suffered by key players. He said the playoffs were “disappointing” because the goal is to be one of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.
“Having said that, we have to look at our club and say where are the areas we can improve, what can we do without taking a step back,” he said. “So we will have to explore all opportunities.”
Check back later for more from my interview with Sund.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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175 comments Add your comment
Double Zero Eight
May 30th, 2012
7:11 pm
There is no hope for the Hawks
as they are currently configured
The Hawks will be rebuilding for another
44 years, unless that get a proven GM
and an elite coach..
I rest my case.
Grandad
May 30th, 2012
7:12 pm
High-Sider
If your the new Black Bigot
and I`m 0l` Grandad the Cracker
Can we still be friends ?
Just Joe
May 30th, 2012
7:14 pm
Anyone want to bet that New Jersey (Brooklyn, whatever) winds up in the top 3 so that they keep their pick and have another trade chip to bring in Dwight Howard? You know this lottery is rigged. I’ll say New Orleans gets #1 as well. Kind of an apology from Stern for messing up the Chris Paul trade.
Just Joe
May 30th, 2012
7:16 pm
Kendall Marshall, Eric Gordon, and Anthony Davis in New Orleans.
I.MUS WRITE
May 30th, 2012
7:20 pm
Rick Sund?? Anyway………
Do we really want Pau Gasol? Id rather have Marc. That man looked really soft….I mean finesse against the Lakers and Nuggets. Al Horford is finesse enough….Jump shot bombs away!
WTH….Rashad Lewis? Id rather have Huey Lewis 80’s pop idol. Blatche is a no go as well. He sux..
JJ/Horford for Kevin Love/ 1st
C’mon are we still on the Jamal Crawford thing. Our bench played well this yr,Willie Green and Pargo were better for the team. Jamal played no defense and turned the ball over too much for me. If he isnt dominating the ball then he isnt that effective. We didnt hear much from him this yr up in the great north west………..Ivan,Pargo,WG >>>>> JC1
Grandad
May 30th, 2012
7:22 pm
High-Sider
There are N0 / Very Few elite White American Basketball Players.
-unless-
They are @ least 6-8+ or above !
I have a hypothesis to which I can refer and will offer someday as to
-why-
there are not more white kids playing basketball.
At the risk of being the “white” antithesis to Terrence Moore.
[r.e. black kids playin` baseball] there is a corollary.
I disagree with you about Ginobili;
but everything you say is not unfounded.
Grandad
May 30th, 2012
7:25 pm
*** an *** hypothesis
should have said:
“an hypothesis”
Did not wish for D.0`U.I. to arrest me.
Ra'mon
May 30th, 2012
7:26 pm
High sider, that isn’t a fair comparison because MJ and Kobe not only were great scorers, they were more efficient scorers than JC, and they will go down in the top 5 of top defensive SGs in league history, while JC isn’t even in the top of defenders on whatever team he signs on next season. A fairer comparison would’ve been would you prefer Nash or T-Mac in his prime, or Chris Mullin or John Stockton. MJ and Kobe have less than four or five seasons in which they’ve not made the playoffs, while JC has only been in the playoffs 2 seasons. John Stockton and Nash were staples in the playoffs for the longest as well. As I said, give me Nash over JC1 any day, and my offense will score more points than yours.
Grandad
May 30th, 2012
7:27 pm
I would bring in KG as a Player Coach in training:
-train him for half a season-
*or less
Grandad
May 30th, 2012
7:34 pm
Pure pg:
Scott Machado, Iona
Scott Machado – projected @ (No. 25)
Machado is an athletic point guard
who can really create in transition or off of penetration.
He changes the tempo of the game quickly
and is a better shooter and athlete than Kendall Marshall,
a better shooter than Tony Wroten
and far more consistent a ball handler than Marquis Teague.
-Doug Gottlieb-
Ra'mon
May 30th, 2012
7:34 pm
G’dad, I would also. With the exception of Duncan, I think KG is the smartest player in the league right now on offense and defense, as well as rebounding. I just think players would grow weary of him crying before every game for the pep talk, lol.
Grandad
May 30th, 2012
7:46 pm
Josh to Houston for both 1st round picks !
I keep sayin` this !
This here Draft is deep as heck !
Three 1st rounders;
could totally re-build in one season !
Maybe a bit young next yr:::::
-but-
‘`Hope Springs Eternal in the human breast;
Man never Is, but always To be blest:
The soul, uneasy and confin’d from home,
Rests and expatiates in a life to come`’
-seemed appropriate-
(`though really I just wanted to use the word ~expatiates~)
High-sider
May 30th, 2012
7:48 pm
@Grandad
Grandad
May 30th, 2012
7:12 pm
High-Sider
If your the new Black Bigot
and I`m 0l` Grandad the Cracker
Can we still be friends ?
——————————————
Why not? As the song goes:
Ebony and Ivory
Live together in perfect harmony
Side by side on my piano, keyboard, oh lord(?) why don’t we….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZtiJN6yiik
Grandad
May 30th, 2012
7:49 pm
Ra`mon
His coaching persona might change ?
heck – Nobody likes LD – why not ?
Just Joe
May 30th, 2012
7:54 pm
It really is going to be hard for this team to pass up Fab Melo if he’s there at 23. For as long as we’ve been looking for a shot blocking 7 footer, to have one sitting there for the taking (even if some say he’s lazy and not too bright), and pass him over for another forward or combo guard would be tough to take if he pans out. 5 pts, 5 rebs, and 1 block in 15 minutes a night would help this team out big time next year.
Grandad
May 30th, 2012
8:00 pm
H-S
As Mary Ellen would say:
ROTFKMC
Funny thing is:
I`ve tried both hair-cuts ?
Now I`ve got a “Bruce Willis”
formerly known as a;
” Yul Brynner “
JustSayinB
May 30th, 2012
8:01 pm
With all due respect: Lord help me, if I continue to read about the Hawks getting back Jamal Crawford… it ain’t going to happen. Let it go! Por Favor!
High-sider
May 30th, 2012
8:11 pm
@Grandad
“High-Sider
There are N0 / Very Few elite White American Basketball Players.
-unless-
They are @ least 6-8+ or above !
I have a hypothesis to which I can refer and will offer someday as to
-why-
there are not more white kids playing basketball.
At the risk of being the “white” antithesis to Terrence Moore.
[r.e. black kids playin` baseball] there is a corollary.
I disagree with you about Ginobili;
but everything you say is not unfounded.” – Grandad
It sure is strange [and ironic] what’s going on in the NBA and MLB. The NBA has less and less American-born white superstars and white players, in general, while MLB has less and less American-born black superstars and black players, in general. The NBA has quite a few foreign-born white players coming primarily from Europe and South America while MLB has quite a few foreign-born black players coming primarily from the Carribean, most notably the Dominican Republic, and South America. Grandad, please give me your “hypothesis” as your reason[s] for this trend.
Grandad
May 30th, 2012
8:30 pm
Just Joe
I watched film of the guy [Fab Melo]
runnin` ,,, `scuse me ,,, lumbering up & down the floor,
against a bunch of sissy white cherub faced bantamidget cub scouts.
He was so slow he was always on the wrong end of the floor.
never got a rebound, scored a point, blckd a shot, nuthin !
with the action going the opposite direction.
Henry Sims / G-town = better !
terrell
May 30th, 2012
8:31 pm
Poor MJ. David Stern is just sad. Move CP3, end up with AD. Pretty good move, I’d say.
Marcus
May 30th, 2012
8:31 pm
Grandad and Astro Joe,
I would trade Marvin to HOU for (disgruntled) PG Kyle Lowery and throw-in PF Patrick Patterson (must have to make the $$$ work) per ESPN Trade Machine.
Draft the BPA @ No. 23, hopefully a good SF like Jeff Taylor (Vandy), Moe Harkless (St. Johns), or Quincy Miller (Baylor).
Sign 9-5 (Ivan Johnson) to a new deal
Fill in the rest with servicable vet min. players, hopefully like T-Mac, etc.
Grandad
May 30th, 2012
8:33 pm
Fab Melo
** should have read like this **
He was so slow he was always on the wrong end of the floor.
with the action going the opposite direction.
never got a rebound, scored a point, blckd a shot, nuthin !
** Not sure how I did that **
Well I do, but, stupidity, is not a good excuse.
Slimjr
May 30th, 2012
8:39 pm
Coach Grandad I present Kevin Murphy’s 50 pt game compressed into less than 2 minutes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KSyZuzXeYo
Sweet jumper….Just like you said..God Given!
Marcus
May 30th, 2012
8:57 pm
dang .. the Bobcats are so sorry, they just lost the lottery. Hornets “won” the right to draft No. 1 overall.
doc
May 30th, 2012
8:58 pm
grandad and hs the problem with white guys not playing absketball, besides they have the same problem i do regarding no hops, is too much access to video games or weed or both
and soccer. a huge competitor to basketball as the type of kid doing them are of a similar size if not 6′8″. also a very good way to college if you arent going to be 6′3″ with extraordinary hops. after playing some soccer for the first time at 27 i would have chosen it as well certainly over football and maybe over basketball, more room to roam. i honestly say parents would do well to encourage kids to at least try soccer as you dont have to have the bulk or physical presence that weeds kids out beyond desire or talent.
cp
May 30th, 2012
9:01 pm
I read a few weeks ago that if the Bobcats didnt get the first pick they might be willing to trade. Well they got the second pick and if im the Hawks I would at least call and see what it would take to get that second pick.
doc
May 30th, 2012
9:08 pm
says nets lose their sixth pick to the blazers. wow they are trash?
cuban smiling as deron might be available to him as a high bidder?
and is there a scenario he can get his hands on dh?
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 30th, 2012
9:16 pm
According to our GM, our goal this year was to make the Conference Finals. The goal, after having the core together 6 years, was not to win a ring.
You look at the teams in the ECF and WCF and you look at us, and you understand. Those teams do not accept losing.
We are in loserville. DawgNole, plz chime in
Mike
May 30th, 2012
9:20 pm
If Sund is going to be here for another year, i think this team is going to stay the same again. This is getting crazy, I don’t know what they can say that is going to make ppl want to come to support this team.
DawgNole
May 30th, 2012
9:21 pm
Rod from College Park
May 30th, 2012
3:59 pm
“His job was to take bad shots?
Interesting strategy.”
No. His job was to score. Most scorers take bad shots. See Kobe, Iverson, Nique…… the difference is a scorer never saw a shot he did not like, and they make difficult shots look easy.
__________________
Let me repeat what you said: “He took bad shots sometimes because that was what his job was.”
Now, you may not have meant what you said, but you sure as hell said it.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 30th, 2012
9:21 pm
“Sund described Atlanta’s regular season as “unbelievably great”
Yeah finishing 4th (really 5th with the seedings) in the conference is unbelievably great.
Lakers went to 2nd round and I’m 99.9999999% sure every single person in that city and organization views their season as an epic fail.
FIRE SUND
Rusty
May 30th, 2012
9:27 pm
There’s nothing wrong with JT. He is the bright star on this team.get rid of iso Joe &LD. Oh I forgot those idiots brought him back, I guess they couldn’t afford anyone else.
DawgNole
May 30th, 2012
9:31 pm
Sund: “. . . we have to look at our club and say where are the areas we can improve, what can we do without taking a step back.”
Too late. You’ve already taken a step back. Round 2 exit last year; Round 1 exit this year.
DawgNole
May 30th, 2012
9:37 pm
Astro Joe
May 30th, 2012
5:09 pm
Seems kind of strange to make a decision on the head coach if they are still closing out the previous season (including holding exit interviews). I guess the opinions of that last group of players is about as valued as the opinions of this blog community.
_____________________
They’d do well to value the opinions of this blog community. I’ve seen a lot better ideas from some of the posters on this board the past few months than I’ve ever seen from Hawks ownership/management.
DawgNole
May 30th, 2012
9:39 pm
Celtics layin’ the wood to Miami early. Shooting lights-out like they did against us in Game 4. May not last, obviously.
O"Brien
May 30th, 2012
9:50 pm
High-sider,
I think I’m going to choose Michael Jordan over John Stockton..
So are you saying you would rather sign Jamal instead of Steve Nash? If that’s the case, I’m glad you are not our GM.
Jamal is a one trick pony, whereas Nash would get Joe, Josh and Al easier shots, and Teague could also learn from him.
DawgNole
May 30th, 2012
9:52 pm
PMC
May 30th, 2012
5:06 pm
Read: Rick Sund hasn’t yet decided if he wants to work for peanuts or not.
____________________
Or, more accurately, “Rick Sund hasn’t yet decided if he wants to work.” He’s been here a few years, and we’re still waiting.
DawgNole
May 30th, 2012
9:54 pm
Ra’mon
May 30th, 2012
5:27 pm
And KG likely knows wherever he goes the fans will follow.
__________________
He doesn’t know Atlanta.
O"Brien
May 30th, 2012
9:54 pm
AJ,
OB, absolutely not. Blatche is a knucklehead who produces every 5th game and Rashard is a modern day Brad Sellers but less healthy at this point. Neither are as productive as Marvin and they are paid far more..
I agree with everything you said. However, Rashard only has one year left on his contract, so next year, $23mil comes off the books, which would provide some financial flexibility.
And although Blatche is a knuckle head, maybe the change of scenery will do him good.
O"Brien
May 30th, 2012
9:55 pm
From ajc.com;
He said the playoffs were “disappointing” because the goal is to be one of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.
I thought the goal was to win an NBA title.
Grandad
May 30th, 2012
9:55 pm
H-S + doc … others
I wrote a dissertation on;
*HS basketball
*AAU
*Terrence Moore
*blk kids vs whte kids plyng bsktbll
* all sorts of good stuff
blg-mnstr ate it
I have it saved but do not feel like editing it tonight.
Some other time.
HS;
last eve – I tried to define racism
also mentioned Ecclesiastes & Song of Solomon
did you see ?
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 30th, 2012
10:03 pm
From ajc.com;
He said the playoffs were “disappointing” because the goal is to be one of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.
I thought the goal was to win an NBA title.
LinkReport this comment
***
goal is to be competitive and entertaining. It is unrealistic to expect a championship. –Gearon
I am also waiting for Sund to begin his job. It’s been 4 yrs and he has done nothing.
Just Joe
May 30th, 2012
10:08 pm
I was half right on the draft. Nets didn’t hit in top 3, but New Orleans did get the first pick. Stern owed them a favor.
Rod from College Park
May 30th, 2012
10:09 pm
“Let me repeat what you said: “He took bad shots sometimes because that was what his job was.”
Now, you may not have meant what you said, but you sure as hell said it.”
All scorers take bad shots. It comes with the territory. A good shot for a true scorer is a bad shot for anybody else. See Kobe Bryant.
DawgNole
May 30th, 2012
10:09 pm
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 30th, 2012
5:31 pm
Sund described Atlanta’s regular season as “unbelievably great” in light of the significant injuries suffered by key players. He said the playoffs were “disappointing” because the goal is to be one of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.
****
LOL there u have it folks. The goal is not to win a ring. The goal is to be one of the best teams in the East. This has been confirmed by an owner AND now our GM (who has implied this for all 4 years)
____________________
Not much has changed these past 4 years, has it? For that matter, not much has changed these past 44 years, has it?
Rod from College Park
May 30th, 2012
10:11 pm
Just interested since their are so many Jamal haters. What has been the best move Sund has made since he has been the GM?
DawgNole
May 30th, 2012
10:12 pm
Rod from College Park
May 30th, 2012
10:09 pm
“Let me repeat what you said: “He took bad shots sometimes because that was what his job was.”
Now, you may not have meant what you said, but you sure as hell said it.”
All scorers take bad shots. It comes with the territory. A good shot for a true scorer is a bad shot for anybody else. See Kobe Bryant.
_____________________
I don’t care if all scorers take bad shots. Their job is NOT to take bad shots. Their job is to SCORE.
O"Brien
May 30th, 2012
10:17 pm
Ra’mon,
High profile players do not want to come to ATL. Why would KG come here? I think he would take less money to go somewhere else.
High profile players are not enamored with our ownership and our coach, and we dont have a dominant PG either.
O"Brien
May 30th, 2012
10:19 pm
If only JJ could draw fouls like Pierce…
DawgNole
May 30th, 2012
10:20 pm
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 30th, 2012
9:16 pm
According to our GM, our goal this year was to make the Conference Finals. The goal, after having the core together 6 years, was not to win a ring.
You look at the teams in the ECF and WCF and you look at us, and you understand. Those teams do not accept losing.
We are in loserville. DawgNole, plz chime in
_____________________
I’ve probably chimed in enough for tonight, GM, but glad to see you back on here indignant about Sund’s senseless mumblings. Seems like we were lamenting the team’s less-than-inspirational goals way back when I first started whining on here regularly (probably January). Obviously, based on Sund’s latest proclamations, not much has changed since then. Forty-four years and counting.