Hawks wouldn’t speak to Avery Johnson if it wasn’t serious
Avery Johnson signals that he has interviewed for the Hawks' coaching job twice. Kinda, sorta.
Earlier today, I gave you a six-pack of thoughts on the Falcons’ pursuit of a new stadium.
It’s lunch time now, so I think it’s safe to open a another sixer. Subject: The Hawks’ coaching search. And about Avery Johnson: I’m done dismissing this possibility.
♦ 1. It’s clear that after two years out of the game, former Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson is getting antsy to return to coaching. This plays in the Hawks’ favor. Regardless of what you may read, logic says Johnson is not going to be overly demanding for a say in personnel matters if he is that determined to coach again. And honestly, even if he is, why would the Hawks be inflexible? General manager Rick Sund is nearing retirement. He will turn 60 after next season. My guess is he’ll retire in a year or two. Another reason given against Johnson’s hiring is financial. But the Hawks are a far higher priority for the Atlanta Spirit than the Thrashers (who also are looking for a coach). They are more likely to spend money on a basketball coach than a hockey coach. Finally, if they weren’t serious about Johnson, they would not have interviewed him twice.
♦ 2. I’m starting to get the feeling that all of these “insiders” writing that Dwane Casey has the “inside track” to the Hawks’ job are just parroting each other. I know this: Sund, the main guy making the decision, isn’t talking to anybody. I’ll repeat what I’ve written before: I understand why Casey is a candidate — I just don’t know why some consider him such a dynamic candidate. My sense is he’s one name in the pool — nothing more, nothing less.
♦ 3. I would hope that Sund will speak to Boston Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau. If we can assume that Doc Rivers is either going to stay in Boston or take a year off (which seems likely) after these playoffs, Thibodeau is the one potential head coach everybody should be looking at. His defenses have helped the Celtics eliminate Miami and Cleveland in the playoffs. They’re on the verge of sweeping Orlando in the Eastern Conference finals. The Hawks had made the Magic look like imminent NBA champions. (Come to think of it, they made Cleveland look like imminent champs in the second round last year. Then the Cavs got slapped by the Magic.) The two big questions about Thibodeau: What’s his offense, and is he head coaching material? Or is best suited as a super assistant? His only head coaching job: Salem State College.
♦ 4. Some are reporting that former New York Knicks guard Mark Jackson is a serious candidate for the Hawks’ job. I’d be stunned. The Hawks are trying to get to the next level in the playoffs. Why would they assume they can make that jump with somebody who never has coached? That doesn’t mean Jackson can’t be a very good head coach one day. But he would be a huge risk in Atlanta.
♦ 5. Repeating what I wrote a week ago: Don’t discount Hawks assistant coach Larry Drew. Hawks players have high admiration for him and don’t at all consider him a Mike Woodson clone. In fact, just the opposite. Drew knows the problems on this team. He knows the buttons that need to be pushed with Josh Smith and Joe Johnson. He is structured and disciplined. If Sund comes to the conclusion that Drew has head coaching potential – and he can’t get a proven commodity like Johnson — it makes sense to give the job to somebody who already knows the issues here.
♦ 6. If Sund goes the assistant rout and doesn’t give the job to Drew, I feel a lot better about Utah assistant Ty Corbin than Casey. Corbin has been studying under Jerry Sloan and is considered the heir apparent for that job. However, there is no indication that Corbin has interviewed yet.
Finally, there is no sense that Sund is close to making a decision. No reason he should be. Unless he and Johnson are ready to close a deal.
♦
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73 comments Add your comment
Glenn
May 24th, 2010
2:42 pm
I have a friend that does the funniest Avery Johnson impersonation . Has his voice down . I would like the idea of Ty Corbin if he was like Jerry Sloan . Just love Jerry Sloan . Any coach who can make grown men cry is gold .
S Hawk Fan
May 24th, 2010
2:45 pm
Jeff… thanks and let’s hope Mr. Sund is thinking like you are. And as far as Woody… some people are just cut out to be a indian instead of a chief! That is so Woody!
JC
May 24th, 2010
2:46 pm
If any of our players could impersonate the new coach the way Howard does Van Gundy, it’d be worth the hire just for that. “God Dwight, what are you doing out there? Jeez, grab a rebound!”
GeeMack
May 24th, 2010
2:50 pm
Jeff,
I think the talks with Johnson are PR moves only. The way the Hawks exited the playoffs, the firing of Woody, and the possible departure of JJ is a huge hit to the fan base.
Management has to appear to be building on what has been established the last 3 years.
Remember teams that lose their star player and head coach the same offseason usually don’t fair well the following season. Ask the Lakers ( they lost Phil and Shaq the same summer, and couldn’t get to the playoffs with Rudy T & Kobe).
Jeff Schultz
May 24th, 2010
2:54 pm
Aint That The Truth — Actually, lots of people are pushing for Casey, not just Mark. But you’re right about there not being a party line.
Jeff Schultz
May 24th, 2010
2:54 pm
GeeMack — One interview, I would be inclined to agree. But two?
T.C
May 24th, 2010
3:26 pm
Jeff, How do you feel about Elston Turner?
Emir S.
May 24th, 2010
3:39 pm
Any chance the Hawks take a look at Mike Brown? I mean yeah, he went 314-177 in 5 seasons with the Cavs….but if you were lucky enough to be the coach of Lebron James would’nt your resume be close to that as well? I dont know, maybe I’m being biased on the whole thought of it?
T.C
May 24th, 2010
3:53 pm
Mike Brown is a glorified Mike Woodson! I HOPE you were joking.
The only difference is that Iso-LeBron works better.
Brown Had like Five Former All-stars on his squad! Including Shaq and LBJ. 90+ million dollar team salary. It would be hard even for Woody to screw that up!
Big Ray
May 24th, 2010
4:17 pm
A big splash is a big splash, whether you are doing a cannonball dive into the pool, or jumping into a mud puddle.
Hiring Mark Jackson? It’s jumping into a mud puddle….
Big Ray
May 24th, 2010
4:19 pm
Mike Woodson failed with Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Jamal Crawford.
Mike brown failed with freakin’ Lebron James. LEBRON JAMES . Oh, and he had Antawn Jamison, Mo Williams, and the biggest front line in the East. Hell no, we do NOT want Mike Brown.
Reid Adair
May 24th, 2010
5:03 pm
Avery Johnson underachieved in the playoffs more than Mike Woodson did. I do not like Avery Johnson as an option, but as you said, Jeff, he wouldn’t have gotten a second interview if they weren’t considering him.
I like Dwane Casey as an option, and I really like you suggestion of Tom Thibodeau. Since Rick Sund seems to be in no hurry to make a hire (and I’m fine with that too), surely he can wait until the Celtics are finished in the playoffs. Of course, maybe Sund knows one way or another that Thibodeau isn’t interested.
We will see.
Taylor Hanson
May 24th, 2010
5:36 pm
What’s with all of the top 10 countdowns? Stupid Animal Tricks up in the next segment?
jj
May 24th, 2010
8:06 pm
Doc is my choice also and I look no farther than the Dream.When they hired their present coach(a veteran one) and let her do her thing,The Dream has become what The Hawks could be and should be.Get someone (Doc) in here and tell him we need his HELP.We are at a dangerous time in this Franchise history and I believe with Doc,JJ and Chills we could be not a dream ,but a sucess.Oh yeah.,see if Big Z is ready to leave Cleveland.
thunderbull56
May 24th, 2010
9:53 pm
Who was that guy? Played for Deetroit.Trashed the Knicks or was it the Nets?Coach/GM combo kinda guy.Kissed the opponents in the playoffs.Sign ‘im.Jist what AJC writers would love in a head coach.Denial.What AJC writers are when it comes to the NBA.
Tweets that mention Hawks wouldn't speak to Avery Johnson if it wasn't serious | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
May 25th, 2010
2:31 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jeff Schultz, Hawks Fan Zone, Bertromavich Reibold, Mark Davids, Kit Kilag and others. Kit Kilag said: Hawks wouldn't speak to Avery Johnson if it wasn't serious: Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) I w… http://bit.ly/cvShks (Google Alerts) [...]
G=Money
May 25th, 2010
8:47 am
It doesn’t matter who they hire, if they don’t bring in better players they are going to remain an above average team that can win during the regular season, and get exposed in the playoffs.
i_am_soulstar
May 25th, 2010
8:57 am
I don’t discredit Thibodeau for all he’s done in Boston, but it sounds like teams are coveting him for the same reason that we coveted Woodson 6 years ago. Remember Woodson received all the glory for the success of the Detroit Pistons’ defensive schemes during their championship season.
So hiring Thibodeau would possibly be repeating the same action and expecting different results. What’s the definition of insanity anyone?
Seriously, how is that any different than a 2004 Mike Woodson hire?
i_am_soulstar
May 25th, 2010
8:58 am
Well said G=Money
MsDee
May 25th, 2010
9:12 am
I say give Avery Johnson the coaching job..if nothing else, it will bring fans to the arena cause it tells the fans we are serious about going further in this PLAYOFF thang!! Also, I like the comments and suggestions he would have made for the Hawks when he was 1 of the 3 commentators on ESPN during our playoff run. And out of all the coaching options, why go for another assistant, lets go for a vet head coach. But like I say b4, if we are going for another assistant coach, it should be Larry Drew.
I normally just go to the games when the Hawks plays the Magics, and the lakers, and the celtics of the leagues, but if they hire Avery Johnson, It would be a good chance I get season tks for the 1st time EVER and I am an extremely die-hard fan since I was 5 yrs old when my mom would take us downtown with our Coke cans for discount Hawks thks. I’m now 33yo. still w/o season tks..ASG, if u want to add another season tk holder on your list, well…u know what 2 do and who to hire..make it happen!!
Jeff
May 25th, 2010
11:42 am
Fratello, Brown, Wilkins, etc. would all be great choices. They all have been great coaches through the years. Notice I said “Have Been”. I don’t think we are looking for a great coach for 1 maybe 2 years just to start this process all over again. I think they are looking for a young or younger coach that may have the potential to be here for a few years with a young team. Whoever that may be, personally while a coaching search may have some expertise involved, I still think its like playing poker and you never know exactly what you are going to get until you get them in here and see how we play the games, practice, and the players respond. I also wouldn’t be listening to the players which it seems are lobbying for Drew. They all lobbied for Woodson to return when his contract was up last and we know how that turned out, the same players quit on him at the worst time.
i_am_soulstar
May 25th, 2010
12:32 pm
Excerpt from Peachtree Hoops:
Exit question: If the Hawks stick with Josh and Al gets increasingly antsy about having to play his prime years in what he feels is out-of-position, will he be less willing to sign that long-term NBA contract with Hawks?
Hawks' Sund lacks string of great coaching hires in past | Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2010
11:42 pm
[...] So I weighed in the other day about how I believe Rick Sund currently has the toughest job among Atlanta’s general managers, having to hire a coach, make a call on Joe Johnson and fix a roster that has been swept in the second round two straight seasons. And we’ve certainly blogged more than a few times about some of the potential candidates to replace Mike Woodson. [...]