Want to be Rick Sund right now? No, you really don’t
Rick Sund is dealing with more high-profile issues than any Atlanta general manager right now.
Over the next month or so, Hawks general manager Rick Sund will make decisions that set the team on a path headed decidedly north or south. A case could be made that a sports GM does this every off season. But seldom does a franchise have so many significant issues at once.
Sund needs to hire a coach, resolve the Joe Johnson issue, do something to fix the rest of the roster (Mike Bibby? Marvin Williams? Center?), ease the Josh Smith headache and get this team to win a game in the second round.
All of which is why Sund’s Atlanta peers — Frank Wren, Thomas Dimitroff and Rick Dudley — all must be thinking the same thing: Glad I’m not him. Here are the four, listed in order of current job difficulty:
SUND/HAWKS: He could try to make a splash at coach and hire Avery Johnson. Or keep it in house with Larry Drew. Or hope to get somebody excited with Dwane Casey. Then he needs to convince Atlanta Spirit owners of his recommendation, and we’ve learned not to assume they’re in agreement.
Sund likes to take his time but he can’t wait too long. Six NBA teams are looking for coaches. That list could grow by as much as four: Boston (Doc Rivers is considering step down), Orlando (Stan Van Gundy could get fired if the Magic lose), Los Angeles (Phil Jackson’s future is uncertain) and Charlotte (Larry Brown hasn’t said definitively that he is coming back).
The Braves' starting pitching has been fixed but the lineup is a problem.
The coach hire figures to influence Johnson’s decision on whether to stay, leave in free agency or agree to a sign-and-trade (and then how up in the air is roster?). Forward Al Horford represents the lone real sign of stability.
♦ FRANK WREN, BRAVES: He has three starting pitchers (Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens) who aren’t going anywhere and two others (Derek Lowe, Kenshin Kawakami) who are sucking the payroll dry. The biggest problem is the everyday lineup.
Outfielder Jason Heyward — yeah, he’s a keeper. Catcher Brian McCann is great when he can see. Second baseman Martin Prado has become an unexpected player to build around. That’s it. Chipper Jones is breaking down. Yunel Escobar is enormously talented but has regressed to the point that he’s a question mark now. Almost everybody else is either a stop-gap (until a prospect develops) or duct tape. Wren made it no secret that his focus has been starting pitching. Now his focus needs to be the lineup.
♦ RICK DUDLEY, THRASHERS: Dudley probably has more to fix than any of the four GMs. He certainly inherited the most baggage. But owner apathy had led to fan apathy, and the byproduct of that is a low expectation level. So in a strange and unfortunate way, that diminishes the pressure on a general manager. The Thrashers are consistently ranked among the NHL’s bottom five in total payroll. That is not likely to change with this ownership group, whose priority is to limit hockey losses and give most of their attention to the Hawks.
Dudley has to hire a coach. He seems to have zeroed in on Chicago Blackhawks assistant John Torchetti. It’s a low-budget hire, but at least Torchetti would come with slightly more cache than John Anderson. On the ice, the Thrashers have a few pieces (Evander Kane, Niclas Bergfors, Zach Bogosian, Ondrej Pavelec). But they lack a big time goal scorer and much else.
♦ THOMAS DIMITROFF: After three drafts, several early high-profile roster cuts and the hiring of a new coaching staff, Dimitroff has shifted into touch-up mode. In 2008, he had the hardest job. In 2010, he’s mostly letting things grow. His major acquisitions this offseason — cornerback Dunta Robinson (free agency) and linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (draft) should help the defense. Things are unlikely to go south this season, but there are two players in particular to keep an eye on: quarterback Matt Ryan, who was less efficient in year two, and running back Michael Turner, who also was disappointing and now admits he was carrying too much weight.
If either Ryan or Turner fizzle, Dimitroff’s job gets exponentially more difficult.
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79 comments Add your comment
Jeff Schultz
May 25th, 2010
7:16 pm
Rikus — Wrong. Turner was not on pace for a great year. He was on pace for a below average year, relative to his first season. One reason: He was overweight.
Jeff Schultz
May 25th, 2010
7:18 pm
Altlienforlife — There are a lot of reasons to look at Thibodeau. The big question is he best suited as a defensive super assistant coach. Honestly don’t know him well enough to know if he’s head coach material but he’s worth a long look.
Jeff Schultz
May 25th, 2010
7:19 pm
J-Dubb — Doc Rivers has said he wants to spend more time with his family. But guess is he takes 1 or 2 years off. As much as he loves Atlanta, I don’t think he’d leave Boston to come straight here, given his spoken to desire.
Jeff Schultz
May 25th, 2010
7:21 pm
Ryder — I never wrote that Ryan was awful. But there’s no question he was less efficient (check out his interceptions and completion percentage) — and this was before his injury. … I agree on the up-tempo offense. As for Joe, I don’t have a feel for what’s motivating him right now.
Jeff Schultz
May 25th, 2010
7:23 pm
Howard — Didn’t see the video, but if it’s really that gross, I never would’ve posted it. The Count isn’t big on gross and disturbing.
Mitun
May 25th, 2010
8:43 pm
i wasn’t being serious.
Mitun
May 25th, 2010
8:48 pm
out of all the team, I think the Falcons has all it can to shine for next season with dangerous offensive with (if Harry Douglas be back that is) and a better defense.
Braves also has a chance but still early in the season to predict
Hawks need the coaching staff and a better GM not saying Sund is bad but he should find someone with experience, I personal would have Tyrone Corbin coaching the team simply because he has played with the hawks and learn alot from Jerry Sloan.
Howard
May 25th, 2010
9:04 pm
Jeff…the bullfighter goring was on all the news internets…the guy suffered a broken jaw, perforated tongue, lost some teeth, torn muscles. The guy actually got up and started walking away until the medics got to him and stopped him. The guy had already killed three bulls when he got hold of that one. He was going for the final thrust kill and he stumbled and fell backward and the bull got him then. It wasn’t bloody at all…just a big mouthful of horn sticking out his mouth. What shocked me was the bull pulled it out cleanly. Danged thing could have ripped his face off if it had not done that. The matador was the top star in all Spain…he was in grave condition but expected to live. Oh, when you’re ever in Spain and have the perverted desire to go to bull fights, the tour guides say go and stand in front of the arena after the events have started and just wait…before long a streamful of tourists will swarm out sick to their stomachs and giving their tickets away. Almost sounds like a Hawks game…no?
MitchC
May 25th, 2010
9:22 pm
Jeff, I keep thinking that this Hawk team is exactly at the point the Bulls and Lakers were when they hired Jackson. Those were two teams with superstars. (In the Bulls case Jordan and Pippen, and in the Lakers case Shaq and Kobe) where Jackson came in, and won titles.
I’ve read rumors that said if Jackson doesn’t retire, he may just return to LA at a much lower salary, if the Lakers win the title.
Think of the similariaties. Is this Hawk team not exactly at the point where the Bulls and Lakers were when Jackson took over in those two places? Those teams had reached a point in the playoffs, where they kept losing before the Finals. Jackson comes in. He won a title after two years in Chicago, and in his first year in LA. Granted, we also dont have a Jordan, or Shaq, to lure Jackson here like the Bulls and Lakers did when he went to coach them.
Rivers and Van Gundy are good coaches. Doc already has won a title, so he wouldnt be a bad hire. With Van Gundy, his team had a great regular season, but, if they lose to the C’s, is that all negated?
My bet: The Hawks dont hire Jackson, Rivers, or Van Gundy, and they go with someone else. As to what happens with Johnson, it wouldnt surprise me a bit if he left
Hawks Rule
May 25th, 2010
10:10 pm
The hawks need to throw out major money and get Doc Rivers, D-wade and bosh—those are the missing pieces. With that talent, ATl makes the finals next year—book it! It will take about $20-30 mil pear year each for Wade and Bosh, but they are worth it. The Hawks can raise ticket prices a bunch to pay these salaries—fans will pay whatever it takes to see these superstars.
Bill Stanfill
May 25th, 2010
10:46 pm
I’d much rather have the current problems these GMs have than the ones past Atlanta GMs had to deal with. As a group, Atlanta’s pro teams are doing pretty well. Let’s keep it in perspective, Jeff.
Urban Meyer
May 25th, 2010
11:02 pm
All management in Atlanta is lousy!!!! All Atlanta pro teams are losers and always will be!!!!
Not Drinking the Kool-Aid
May 25th, 2010
11:22 pm
Why do you people think these superstars want to come to the Hawks? Bosh has already said the teams he would be willing to play for and Atlanta is not on the list! Tom Thibodeau according to several reports has already been offered the N.O. Hornets job. Forget about Doc, SVG, and Phil Jackson not enought star power in this city. Sign Avery Johnson or Byron Scott or even Lawrence Franks or Corbin. You can’t trade away Smoove and Marvin if you want to run. If you guys truly are Hawks fans and watched most of the games where they ran and got into the open court then you know to run you need Smoove, Horford, and to some extent even Marvin who rebounds pretty good. Marvin growth offensively has been stunted. A good coach could fix this and help Marvin attack the rim and gain some confidence with his jump shot. Falcons look great, the return of Harry Douglas, Peria Jerry, and William Moore along with Robinson and Witherspoon should make them a playoff team. Braves should have long ago traded Chipper. So long Bobby Cox and good riddance!!! As for the Thrashers there is probably no hope for them.
An Adult
May 25th, 2010
11:33 pm
DCbravosfan— wow, first on a sports blog! What an accomplishment and to think that you’ve done it more than once. Wow….sports blog writer sniffing (like jock sniffing). Imagine.. what a life… sitting around waiting for the great sports writers of all time to spew out a few words and you and no one but you, beats everyone else to comment. Truly blessed man… your Mom must be proud. I know it’s too early for you to retire, given you still haven’t finished high school, but how can you ever top this????
Deep
May 25th, 2010
11:47 pm
Let’s please never use the word “wingspan”. It reminds me of Billy Knight. Thanks.
TheAntiMe
May 25th, 2010
11:56 pm
There are the 2 main issues involving Woody’s replacement and Joe Johnson’s situation, but in reality, all Rick Sund can do regarding Joe Johnson is offer him the max contract, which I believe that he will. If Johnson has his mind set to play somewhere else next season then the best the Hawks can hope for is a sign and trade of Johnson.
The ball is clearly in iso-Joe’s hands, as usual.
Reid Adair
May 26th, 2010
12:00 am
If Phil Jackson leaves Los Angeles, he’ll be coaching somewhere. I don’t see him retiring.
And with all due respect, Jeff, I still don’t see Avery Johnson as the answer. With a better overall team in Dallas, he failed in the playoffs as bad as, if not worse than, Mike Woodson.
Matt the Brave
May 26th, 2010
1:00 am
Jeff, what absolutely drives me crazy is that before Doc Rivers took the job in Boston, he essentially begged the Hawks to hire him. Now that he’s already accomplished what he set out to do (i.e.: win a championship and maybe a second one), they Hawks are never going to get him. Granted, Woodson was the right man for the job to build the team up, but I think that Rivers would have done a great job as well.
Also, why is Dominique Wilkins never considered for a coaching (not necessarily head) job in the NBA? Is it because of any particular reason?
Braves' Kenshin Kawakami now on pace to go 0-25 | Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2010
1:38 am
[...] Want to be Rick Sund right now? No, you really don’t [...]
Hoops
May 26th, 2010
9:21 am
Think About This:
If Doc Rivers is going to retire, then the Celtics are going to have to hire a coach. I believe that Tom Thibodeau will be the next Celtics coach. I would love to have him in ATL, but we have not even interviewed him. Doc Rivers is not going to leave the Celtics to come and coach the Hawks either!
Phil Jackson is not going anywhere. He will retire as the Lakers coach when that time comes. Larry Brown has no ties to ATL. Why would he want to come here?
The top college coaches that are being mentioned, Coach K, Calipari, etc. are not interested in the Hawks!
Like it or not, the Hawks best choices are (not in any particular order) Avery Johnson, SVG (may get fired), JVG, Mike Brown, or Byron Scott. IMO these other assistant coaches (Casey, Mitchell, etc.) and former players (M. Jackson) that haven’t any coaching experience, whose names are being tossed around, would not be an upgrade over Woodson! Don’t hire someone that is not a great improvement over what you had!
Sund needs to be patient and see what coaches become available between now and the end of the NBA playoffs. We need to have a great coach in place by July 1. Then the FA’s, that we are going after, will know who the Hawks coach is going to be! That will help with attracting the right players to the Hawks! JMO
John
May 26th, 2010
9:26 am
They need to hire Avery Johnson and Keep Joe Johnson and they need a point gurad and a center . They do not need to make to many changes to this team they need a good coach not casey what has he done at least avey johnson took the mavericks to the finals . People talking about all these trades are crazy we still trying to be a contender not an uncontender.
Mike is Back
May 26th, 2010
2:00 pm
Jeff, I want Sund job…just so I could pick Avery as the Hawks new head coach…than he could have it back. lol
I would also like to take a stab at Wren’s job…MAN HE KILLING US.
All I'm Saying...
May 26th, 2010
2:09 pm
Aside from his spelling and subject verb tense issues, I agree with what John typed.
LET’S GO HAWKS, BRAVES, FALCONS, AND THRASHERS!
Veteran Fan
May 26th, 2010
2:38 pm
All of you who want to stand pat on the Hawks are crazy! How many of the Celtics were drafted by Boston? Two or three and only two of the first eight! The core of the team was acquired through TRADES! Wake up people, it is time to wheel and deal or suffer worse things than a second round sweep in the playoffs! Joe and Josh and Marvin and Henry cannot win a championship together, the CHEMISTRY and basic skills are not there! I agree that the Hawks have to run to win, but you also have to execute in the half court to win in the playoffs! Also, those of you that say that Bosh won’t come here, the simple fact is that if Josh leaves and we get a good point and another scorer, Bosh can make more money with us than being number 2 contract somewhere else. Put the right combination together and sell him on the situation and he will come! A new coach will bring Childress into the fold with his 15 points and ten rebounds (many offensive) and superior defensive skills(do not need Marvin). And if we can get a smart scorer with size like the kid from Butler in the draft and find a foreign consistent shooter like Ginobli or Drazen we will be set to make a strong title run.
LexLuther
May 26th, 2010
3:09 pm
The Orlando Magic have the ability (provided they get contributions from everyone) to become the first team in nba history to come back and win a series after trailing 3-0. On paper the magic are better than the celtics and have a stronger team. The magic took too many games to adjust to the Celtics before finally beating the Cs on monday. The Magic are built to either POUND THE BALL INSIDER TO HOWARD and watch superman work or when howard is double-teamed kick the ball out to the open shooter and watch him bury a 3-pointer. This inside-out game is unique to the Magic but their personnel is equipped to just win, baby win. Orlando had won all their games in the regular season for two consecutive months before finally losing three straight to boston. If any team is equipped to squash history and win 3 straight games it is the Magic. I hope the magic make history and beat boston so that finally ALL THE PLAYOFF BARRIERS WILL COME DOWN.
LatrelleSpreewell
May 26th, 2010
4:42 pm
Has anybody ever thought about hiring former hawk and slam dunk champion SPUD WEBB for the Hawks coaching job? I think little sputnik would do just fine provided someone gave him the chance to coach.
Hawks' Sund lacks string of great coaching hires in past | Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2010
10:49 pm
[...] 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 [...]
BobbyCrocker
May 29th, 2010
12:57 pm
I am absolutely SHOCKED that Orlando has been eliminated. That Orlando Magic team has such a good roster, but dont play collectively well as a team. I knew when the Magic acquired Vince Carter, they were getting someone who was washed up and a complete bust. Carter gave the Magic absolutely nothing in the conference finals and thus dont have the best team in the eastern conference so are therefore eliminated because of that. Boston has the best team in the east and thus have advanced to the finals. The Celtics will get eliminated by the Lakers because the Lakers have the best closer in the game in Kobe Bryant and Kobe’s legacy is on the line in the finals series. Kobe wants to finish his career with at least 5 rings/titles and Kobe realizes his lakers may never get back to the finals so Kobe wants to get that fifth title, get it over with as quickly as possible. That will be the Lakers mindset when they hook up with Boston in the finals. Phoenix is an anomole and I cant beleive they are hanging with the Lakers. In fact, the Lakers could be trailing in their series with the Suns, but because the Lakers have Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant and a championship pedegree, the Lakers are up in the series with Phoenix and are on the verge of closing out the Suns, and thus the sun is about to set on Phoenix as they will get eclipsed tonight in the Western conference.
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12:16 am
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