The Atlanta Hawks are circling, after dismissing former general manager Landry Fields. The accomplished Bob Myers is obviously high on their list, especially considering his replacement’s connection to the Golden State Warriors. Minnesota Timberwolves president Tim Connelly and Team USA director Grant Hill are considered to remote options.
Yet, it’s not just the front office that could get a facelift this offseason. Questions about Trae Young’s future with the franchise have resurfaced due to Fields’s firing and their failure to secure a playoff berth. Even Hawks head coach Quin Snyder may not stick around.
“Snyder is still under contract,” reports The Athletic’s John Hollinger. “However, Snyder might have an interest in pursuing other openings, especially if the (San Antonio) Spurs job becomes available.”
Hawks Head Coach Quin Snyder Among Potential Candidates To Go West
Snyder leaving the Hawks might not be the biggest problem, especially at this juncture.
However, after two-plus seasons, Snyder has yet to coach the Hawks to a .500 (or above) record. He’s currently 86-99 with Atlanta, his win percentage (.465) the third-worst among the head coaches they’ve hired since 2005. Though regarded as a defensive guru prior to his hire, the Hawks have ranked in the bottom-third of teams in his two full seasons. That’s a far cry from coaching a top-10 defense, which he had in every season with the Utah Jazz.
To sum it all up, it hasn’t been all bad, but he’s underwhelmed and underperformed. Outside of assessment’s of Snyder’s performance though, there’s just the fact that several solid head coach candidates are on the market.
Heavy Seasoning
Former Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer flamed out with the Phoenix Suns after just one year. Nevertheless, Atlanta was remarkably successful under Budenholzer and currently have the personnel for his five-out offense. Furthermore, he won a championship while coaching the Milwaukee Bucks in 2020-21.
Former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone’s temper led to his time in the Mile High reaching its boiling point. Yet, he was instrumental in the development of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun. He won a championship with the Nuggets in 2022-23.
There are other seasoned options, such as Jeff Van Gundy, Frank Vogel, Brett Brown, and Mike Brown.
Van Gundy is a for the Los Angeles Clippers. Vogel, won a championship while leading the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019-20, has a valuable voice with the Dallas Mavericks in a coaching consultant role. B. Brown is an assistant coach for the Spurs. M. Brown, the Sacramento Kings this season, is a two-time NBA Coach of the Year.
Any one of them could be shortlisted by the Hawks and for good reason.
Last but not least, there are younger coaches that are looking to get their shot.For example, Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney is highly regarded in league circles. Fellow Mavericks assistant Jared Dudley has extensive experience as an NBA player, which is always a plus. Kings interim head coach Doug Christie has garnered praise after stepping in for M. Brown. Spurs interim head coach Mitch Johnson has also earned respect around the league.
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