Report: Landry Fields to supplant Travis Schlenk as Atlanta Hawks' head of basketball operations
Former New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors wing Landry Fields will replace Travis Schlenk as the lead decision-maker for the Atlanta Hawks' basketball operations, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Check back soon for more details.
wftv.comMcMillan looking for more success as Hawks' full-time coach
ATLANTA — (AP) — Nate McMillan earned his deal as full-time coach of the Atlanta Hawks by leading the team to its first playoff appearance since 2017. The playoff run took the Hawks all the way to the Eastern Conference finals, and McMillan says he believes more success awaits the young team. As interim coach, McMillan led the Hawks to an improbable run that changed the expectations for the young team. The Hawks were only 14-20 under former coach Lloyd Pierce, who along with Schlenk led the rebuilding effort. McMillan became the 20th winningest coach in NBA history, passing Mike D'Antoni, when Atlanta beat Golden State on April 4.
wftv.comHawks reach agreement to make Nate McMillan full-time coach
Hawks Bucks Basketball Atlanta Hawks' head coach Nate McMillan reacts to a call during the first half of Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday, July 1, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash) (Aaron Gash)ATLANTA — (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks have reached an agreement with interim coach Nate McMillan to accept a full-time role after he led the team to an improbable run to the Eastern Conference finals. Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk said Monday “an agreement in place in principal” was finalized earlier in the day with McMillan. The young Hawks team enjoyed an immediate turnaround under McMillan and now can embrace a future with the full-time coach. Once he says this is what we’re going to do, he’s consistent with it, and because of that consistency, I believe the players believe in it.
wftv.comHawks fire Pierce following high hopes, disappointing start
(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, Pool, File)ATLANTA – Atlanta Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce was fired less than halfway into a season that began with heightened expectations but was beset by injuries. The Hawks are 14-20 and 11th in the Eastern Conference, following a 109-99 loss at Miami on Sunday night. AdMcMillan filled in for Pierce when Pierce was recently away from the team while his wife was giving birth. This was supposed to be the season the Hawks returned to the playoffs, and Pierce acknowledged before the season it was time to win. Pierce, hired in 2018, was 63-120 (.344) with the Hawks, missing the playoffs in each of his two completed seasons.
Kerr, Nurse among NBA coaches wondering about Olympic plans
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)Golden State coach Steve Kerr was supposed to be in Tokyo for the Olympics this summer. Then again, Kerr isn't certain if he or anyone else from the NBA will be there at all. FIBA pushed back the dates for the four remaining qualifying tournaments to June 29 through July 4, 2021, meaning they would end 19 days before the rescheduled start of the delayed Tokyo Olympics. Toronto coach Nick Nurse is scheduled to coach Canada in that qualifying tournament and, he hopes, the Olympics. Nurse, Popovich and Kerr surely arent the only coaches wondering on this point.
Whats next for the NBA? A plan for testing is the big key
The league and the players know they must go above and beyond in the interest of safety. The rough very rough draft of the NBA calendar suggests next season will start Dec. 1. Meanwhile, the 2020 NBA finalists arent even slated to get nine weeks off before next season starts. The Warriors Klay Thompson last played a year ago, when he tore his ACL in the NBA Finals. But for the players who play deep into this season, then play deep into next season, thats a lot of basketball without a lot of time off.