Atlanta Hawks: Rick Sund likely to stay but future role uncertain
Hawks general manager Rick Sund is likely to remain with the franchise after his contract expires at the end of this month but his future role in the front office still isn’t clear.
Sund said he’s still in discussions with Hawks co-owners Bruce Levenson and Michael Gearon Jr. about continuing to work for the Hawks in some capacity beyond the draft.
“All I’m going to say is Bruce and I are kicking around a few ideas and when something gets totally resolved we will let you know,” Sund said today after the team worked out draft prospects.
Sund wouldn’t elaborate beyond that statement. He has continued in his GM role as the Hawks prepare for the draft.
It’s believed Sund has expressed interest in an advisory role with the Hawks. He also has considered retirement so he can spend more time in the Seattle area, where he still owns a home.
The Hawks reportedly denied the Trail Blazers permission to interview Sund after Atlanta’s season ended; Portland eventually hired former Clippers GM Neil Olshey. Philadelphia media has speculated Sund could be a candidate to replace Rod Thorn, who is stepping down as Sixers GM and president.
Sund, 61, succeeded Billy Knight as Hawks GM in 2008. The Hawks had their streak of second-round playoff appearances snapped at three with the loss to Boston.
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
74 comments Add your comment
GMAN
June 16th, 2012
12:34 pm
first
random
June 16th, 2012
12:38 pm
last
Ronnie
June 16th, 2012
12:41 pm
This news will surely fire up the fanbase, no?
Runner-
June 16th, 2012
12:50 pm
The mediocrity continues!!
Blodus
June 16th, 2012
12:52 pm
Wow..This is the most boring franchise in the world!!!!!
Blodus
June 16th, 2012
12:57 pm
Can they just move this team to Seattle and maybe we can start over? Please? It would work for the best.
Grandad
June 16th, 2012
1:11 pm
MC
Will the Hwks allow you to report on the workouts ?
Paddy
June 16th, 2012
1:23 pm
If Sund chooes to live in Atl over Seattle, we know we have he wrong GM. That is a no-brainer!!
Blodus
June 16th, 2012
1:25 pm
We already know we have the wrong owners and GM and half of the players.
KevinM
June 16th, 2012
1:37 pm
MC, so is this the part where the owners have zero interest in providing interviews? With Sund in neutral, it would nice to hear that ’someone’ in the organization is putting together ideas on how this team is better come training camp.
Perhaps a questionaire about the priorities for this offseason?
Sund sounds retired already. Kicking ideas around? What, to work from Seattle on the back porch?
KevinM
June 16th, 2012
1:42 pm
So while the Hawks are in limbo, and have no interest in promoting the goings-on, looks like Boston is trying to get lil Doc on their roster:
“The Celtics hold the twenty-first and twenty-second picks in the first round. However, league sources believe Boston will package the picks together to move up in the draft or trade away one of the picks in a separate deal. The Celtics don’t want to bring in two rookies.”
Slimjr
June 16th, 2012
2:43 pm
Retire Grandpapa!
Retire Grandpapa!
Retire Grandpapa!
Slimjr
June 16th, 2012
2:45 pm
Y-A-W-N…………………………….ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Slimjr
June 16th, 2012
2:47 pm
Hey Sund here’s an idea. Go fishing……Port side!
ryan
June 16th, 2012
2:54 pm
I wish the Hawks just moves away we are going loose Josh Smith anyway i am ready for the Falcons and football to start .
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
June 16th, 2012
3:04 pm
Its hard out here for a Hawks fan.
Sautee
June 16th, 2012
3:12 pm
So, is Pendergraph the GM, and no one is saying so?
MC, throw us a bone. This one’s old and rotting and smells awful.
Sautee
June 16th, 2012
3:12 pm
But, hey, thanks for the new blog.
The Big Picture
June 16th, 2012
3:14 pm
1) 1-4 we are as solid as it gets: Teague, Joe, Josh and Horf – we had a stellar center in Jason Collier, but he passed away suddenly and unexpectedly and we haven’t been able to replace him – athletic centers who can pass, shoot and run the floor like Collier, don’t grow on trees
2) the team is in a state of flux and cost saving mode because they are ‘FOR SALE’
3) now that George Shin is out of the league, we have the dubious distinction of having the worst ownership in the league – which is a deterrent to attracting good players
……..Sund is not the problem – he’s not the reason why J-smoove jacks up 20 footers at the most inopportune times – and sulks and pouts to the refs when he should be getting back on D – if that’s coaching and Drew or Joe won’t straighten him out then we need to get a coach who will but ASG doesnt want to spend money on that type of coach and that type of coach doesnt want to deal with the uncertainty of being on the ASG payroll
Dawg
June 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
What was his role anyway? Sell draft picks? Draft no one? Trade Bibby for 2 #1’s?
The Hawks fans deserve better. Can’t the ASG have to answer to someone? Can’t a reporter ask them anything?
Being a Hawks fan is horrible. While other teams are trying to figure out how to improve, the Hawks are simply trying to stay in business enough to play the game. The Hawks are cheap, cheap, cheap.
Ra'mon
June 16th, 2012
4:01 pm
So while most teams have already started and completed the search for front office positions, the Hawks aren’t even aware if they will need to hire someone for the GM position. And if its a situation where they think they will just promote from within, that isn’t depressing news towards us. They hired a head coach from with in, while the same summer Chicago hired a coach of the Year. If Pendegraph has been handling the drafts for the Hawks the last few years, he would’ve been the last person to be my choice for general manager. The Hawks say they want elite results, but they continue to reward sub-par performances with promotions.
Slimjr
June 16th, 2012
4:06 pm
Solid?
How does this sound? The streak will continue……………..
44
2056
Slimjr
June 16th, 2012
4:08 pm
The Hawks are like DC..Absolutely clueless….
Slimjr
June 16th, 2012
4:12 pm
How much is that #23 pick worth anyway? Might as well sell it for cash?
why not hire
June 16th, 2012
4:14 pm
phil jackson to take his place and have a manager replacement in waiting?
WhoDat
June 16th, 2012
4:16 pm
good move, steady as she goes, stay the course.
next year is the one.
Go Hawks!
cp
June 16th, 2012
4:16 pm
I wish they would just promote Pendergraph and get it over with.
Ronnie
June 16th, 2012
4:50 pm
“phil jackson…”
LMAO *hangs up phone*
ant banks
June 16th, 2012
5:01 pm
LOL. the hawks denied sund permission to talk to the trailblazers in the last 2 months of his contract. smgdh @ these mofos. lol
will
June 16th, 2012
5:42 pm
Sund, please leave and take ASG to Seattle w/you. Bye, Bye, Please!!!!!!
Paddy
June 16th, 2012
5:49 pm
ASG denies Sund an interview w/ trailblazers, two mons ago and then do not give him a new contract. How do these guys sleep at night?
Rod from College Park
June 16th, 2012
6:20 pm
Rod,
“Marvin was averaging 14 and 6 as a 21 year old, so Sund thought he would improve. Therefore, I have no problems with Sund re-signing Marvin. I just didn’t like Sund’s negotiation tactics”.
Well I guess I am just a genius then because I said before we drafted him and before we signed him to that second deal that he was garbage. There is reason that everyone who plays in that spot Marvin has on this team usually puts up career numbers. Remember when Chills played there he shot 50% from the field, and stayed on the glass. Flip Murray had career numbers, Jamal was six man of the year. That is no coincidence. It speaks to the talent on this team. Marvin gets all of his points because of the other talented players on this team. Again, I assure you there is not another player in this league that gets as many clean looks at the basket as Marvin Williams. Career playoff stats, 7.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 38.6 ppg in 5 years. Those numbers tell the story. The guy is, was ans will always be a bust. Sund was an idiot for resigning him.
UGA
June 16th, 2012
6:36 pm
We should look to trade #23 to Golden State for their #30 and #35. Just an idea, then we could grab both Wroten and Ezeli from Vandy……..just an idea…..
UGA
June 16th, 2012
6:38 pm
Plus that would lower our cap some……Lang Greene said today he’d like to see us make a run at Brandon Roy, me too! I think he is healthy.
Slimjr
June 16th, 2012
6:53 pm
FTPB
O’Brien
June 16th, 2012
10:56 am
MsDee,
From MC’s blog;
“The sessions are closed to media but the Hawks said they would make players available for interviews following their workouts..
MC will not get a chance to see the workouts, but he will get to interview them.” Tragic…
hawksfancents95
June 16th, 2012
6:54 pm
if sund stays it is the perfect symbolism for the hawks organization, they are not in or out they are content with hanging around in neutral. whats the point of having him be an advisor or some bs role, get a new young gm from SA front ofice or someone who has been around mark cuban for a while and make them our new gm and pay them minimal salary.this non chalant attempt to establish a front office has to stop, i cant wait till mega millions gets to over 300 mill again to buy this franchise and win us the o’brien.
hawks21
June 16th, 2012
7:28 pm
Did u forget we were a BAD miss call (NBA confirmed it); away from coming home for game 7 against Boston! I know that everyone is tired of the Hawks. But look at other teams, i.e. Wizards,Kings,Bobcats! How do you think THEY feel. At least we are mad about losing in the playoffs. Sund hands are tired (ASG). But look @ some options. Trade Josh & Teague for a top 5 pick w/SF or PF/same 2 to LA for Bynum & 2 rd/Josh & 1 rd pick to Net (Brooks) & 1 rd pick?????
Paddy
June 16th, 2012
7:41 pm
If the ASG thought Sund failed as their GM, why now use him as an advisor? How do yo think the new GM is going to like that senario?
Paddy
June 16th, 2012
7:44 pm
Is Billy Knight still in the NBA somewhere?
BILLY KNIGHT
June 16th, 2012
7:51 pm
Paddy im still chiling and walking my dog in the Parks of the ATL.
Thanks for being considerate.
steven a smith
June 16th, 2012
7:53 pm
If he were a good GM., he would be in demand. Enough said. The Orlando Magic are not looking at anyone in the Atlanta Hawks organization to fill their vacancies.
Ra'mon
June 16th, 2012
9:29 pm
O’B, and Grandad,
Would either of you be for trading our pick and Zaza for Houston’s two first rounders? Or would you be for trading Teague and Zaza for both of their picks while keeping our pick? I really believe Houston (rumored to be trying to trade BOTH of their picks) would take either of those trades. I think Marshall, Zeller, Jones, and Moultrie each will be big contributors at the next level. And the Hawks will be in a great position to get at least two of those players (or Austin Rivers if he slips).
tjhook
June 16th, 2012
9:35 pm
The Hawks need a veteran playmaker at point guard. Teague does not have a strong enough personality to limit iso-Joe and force Josh Smith play down low more often. Everybody knows the head coach won’t put his foot down on the heavy hitters. I recommend they pursue Andre Miller in free agency and put Teague and Marvin Williams together for a trade to a lottery team.
Ra'mon
June 16th, 2012
9:54 pm
TJhook, I agree with you about Andre Miller!
glw
June 16th, 2012
9:58 pm
Ra’mon,
dont know how others feel about it, but unless its a trade to bring in a superstar, we need Zaza, he’s the only true center we got.
tj hook,
I do agree Teague’s personality will make it hard to be the true leader we need, but not sure Andre Miller would be any different. I doubt they would follow his lead. Maybe a Steve Nash would, but of course he aint comin here.
ant banks
June 16th, 2012
10:10 pm
i have NO confidence in the hawks scouting department. name one pick that they nailed. neither do i have confidence in the coachin’ staff to be able to coach up players….smgdh
XHawkfan
June 16th, 2012
10:26 pm
There are a few very good young possible GM’s out there but Hawks have no interest. They’re happy just making play-off and coming home. ‘Hell no to SUND!!!!
Mark Bradley already has thrown out some good names for GM..take his advise and at least look around.
prison mike
June 16th, 2012
10:31 pm
“If he were a good GM., he would be in demand.”
Hello, Mcfly he’s getting heavy interest from various clubs including Portland and Philadelphia. With that, I need a GM that likes to take risk.
UGA
June 16th, 2012
11:03 pm
The Hawks are not making any blockbuster trade, the core will stay as is. We gotta add a good pick and look at affordable free agents. Need to start discussing:
Josh Howard
Michael Redd
Randy Foye
Keyon Dooling
etc.
cp
June 16th, 2012
11:09 pm
Gotta love how Hawks fan think certain players on the team are garbage yet think a team is going to give up something of value in a trade for our garbage smh lmao.
KevinM
June 16th, 2012
11:09 pm
Teams that want to be mediocre will inquire about Rick Sund.
Plain and simple, its not about getting the best guy to represent the owners. Its to get a guy who will be the whipping boy and yes man to all the ASG’s limitations and demands.
When the ASG says to make a quick buck by selling Kobe jerseys in the stores, by gosh you do it!
Rick Sund is the perfect complement to our stooges we have as owners.
And nothing says mediocre like Rick Sund!
KevinM
June 16th, 2012
11:15 pm
“Ra’mon
June 16th, 2012
9:29 pm
Would either of you be for trading our pick and Zaza for Houston’s two first rounders? Or would you be for trading Teague and Zaza for both of their picks while keeping our pick?”
Haha, Ramon, now if you know how LD operates, do you really think he has any interest in developing a draft pick? Say it in AI’s voice,
“Come on man! It’s draft picks!”
LD isn’t developing anyone, and he has one year AGAIN to prove we can continue to beat -.500 teams and lose to +.500 teams.
I think we have the formula down here which apparently satisfies the stooges.
cp
June 16th, 2012
11:23 pm
I just dont see the love affair for Kendall Marshall. He looks no better than Marcus Williams from UConn a few years ago. Similar games in pretty much every aspect. Neither have good athleticism, cant play d, cant shoot, but are great passers. Maybe he will surprise me but I see a great passer but doesnt do anything else well. He couldnt defend college pg’s so I can only imagine what the speed of the NBA guys will do to him.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
June 17th, 2012
12:29 am
Hawks need to do better in Public Relations.
Nate ArchiBALL
June 17th, 2012
1:16 am
“we had a stellar center in Jason Collier, but he passed away suddenly and unexpectedly and we haven’t been able to replace him – athletic centers who can pass, shoot and run the floor like Collier, don’t grow on trees”………..The Big Picture
I guessing the Big Pic never saw Jason Collier play……he was none of that at the NBA level. Google his career stats.
GTanner
June 17th, 2012
1:55 am
Oh thank God, I couldn’t stand to have any hope for this team improving.
TLAW
June 17th, 2012
2:27 am
Just dont go to the games…watch on TV..until the ASG gets out of town I will not be going back to Phillips. That is hard for me to say but these fools deserve it..just sell the team to ONE owner and let us go on about our business. Its like these fools cant stop with us just losing a hockey team..noooooooo. they want the double decker, lets run the basketball team in the ground as well…Gearon and the DUMBASSES….and they partner with sports talk in the town to keep them off their back..yeap the Dicky’s are in bed with them as well..but you know what…yall still stink and true fans see it no matter who you partner with
Buddy Grizzard
June 17th, 2012
4:40 am
“whats the point of having him be an advisor or some bs role, get a new young gm from SA front ofice or someone who has been around mark cuban for a while and make them our new gm”
I wrote in march the hawks should “promote” sund and hire a new GM. At this point I don’t think the Hawks have any shot at Lindsey. Weaver from OKC might be more realistic.
I support keeping Sund involved because he hit a home run with Teague and changed the defensive culture of the team with the Bibby trade. Those of you who are going to mock me for this, please be sure to include in your post your opinion about how well Pargo will perform as the primary backup point guard this year.
Buddy Grizzard
June 17th, 2012
4:41 am
Link to my march 9 post
http://www.hoopinionblog.com/2012/03/comparing-twilight-of-two-hawks-eras-by.html
Buddy Grizzard
June 17th, 2012
4:45 am
Also, Cuban is the last example anybody should follow. This clown let Nash and Chandler walk. Probably cost the Mavs a shot at a second championship.
a fan
June 17th, 2012
5:09 am
I bet the hawks promote Sund just like they did with Don Waddell they both failed at gm so the atlanta spirit will promote Sund to president the spirit group is a joke
Paddy
June 17th, 2012
5:31 am
Worldwide Clyde…………The PR Dept. of the Hawks was let go years ago. ASG took over those duties. I think it has worked out fairly well, don’t you?
Just Joe
June 17th, 2012
7:12 am
Glad to see Pape Sy back for summer league. Kid appears to be getting better. He hit 39% of his 3’s attempting 2.6 per game (18 minutes per). Here is what an article about his French team says:
“The rising star of the team is Pape Sy.”
“we saw this year that he is a good player, still young but could make it back to the NBA one day.”
tidog
June 17th, 2012
8:16 am
Teague is the real deal and he’s the Hawks impact player of the future. The organization would be wise to start building around him. Joe, Josh, Al, Marvin have peaked, the only guy with breakout potential is Teague.
KevinM
June 17th, 2012
10:12 am
Yes, Buddy give Sund credit for drafting Teague. The same Rick Sund who told us he doesn’t deal with the draft in his own front office.
The same Rick Sund who has us in cap HAIL.
And Pargo is not the answer as a backup, but since we are cap-strung, it may be him or LD’s pet Pape.
KevinM
June 17th, 2012
10:16 am
Happy Father’s day to you guys here who contribute good stuff daily!
tjhook
June 17th, 2012
10:18 am
tidog,
Jeff Teague is a very good athlete but not nearly versatile enough to lead the hard heads we have on the roster AND the hardheads are the players the Atlanta Spirit has committed to.
Eb
June 17th, 2012
10:23 am
Sund should be canned for the mindless resigning of Joe Johnson. That alone should get him a lifetime ban from the NBA just as Billy Knight got his via inane draft picks.
KevinM
June 17th, 2012
10:27 am
“I guessing the Big Pic never saw Jason Collier play……he was none of that at the NBA level. Google his career stats”
Nate, so true. I remember how Shaq would just move Collier around like he was a paper doll. And I learned how Jason had just started getting ready for his final NBA season with Woody and the Hawks by coming to our high school gym in Cumming and working out hard every morning because of the expectations put upon him by the Hawks’ organization.
His body simply could no longer respond to the work needed to be in top shape. RIP Jason.
KevinM
June 17th, 2012
10:32 am
Rick Sund and Billy Knight both deserve to have jobs, just not in the NBA.
Perhaps the NBDL where their decisions won’t impact those franchises like they have kept us in mediocrity.
zgoldatl
June 17th, 2012
10:48 am
Paddy- If you like Seattle so much, take 85 South to Harstfield Jackson. I’m sure they got a plane waiting on you.
If Heaven ain’t a lot like Dixie, I don’t want to go
KevinM
June 17th, 2012
10:50 am
“The Lakers are committed to moving Pau Gasol — the fall guy for their second-round ouster against the Thunder and previous playoff failures — even if they have to take back less talent”
I know a team that can give the Lakers what they wish for….pick any 2 guys on this roster, preferably Marvin and Joe first.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
June 17th, 2012
11:14 am
Paddy
June 17th, 2012
5:31 am
Worldwide Clyde…………The PR Dept. of the Hawks was let go years ago. ASG took over those duties. I think it has worked out fairly well, don’t you?
————————————————————————————————————————————————-
That explains it all.
Michael Cunningham
June 17th, 2012
11:47 am
new blog posted. shutting down this thread.