HoopsHype.com Rumors

Brian Butch to join the Atlanta in summer league-- great fit for Butch who is back healthy- fully expect Brian to be in the league this fall Twitter

Atlanta Hawks, Free Agency, Summer League, Brian Butch 

Al Horford: What's good! Check out @etanthomas36 his book on Fatherhood is available. Its great to be a part of it! Twitter

Atlanta Hawks, Al Horford, Etan Thomas 

CSNNW.com has learned the Portland Trail Blazers did request permission to speak with Atlanta Hawks general manager Rick Sund and ownership denied their request, according to a source close to the situation. Chris Broussard of ESPN was first to report the Trail Blazers had interest in Sund and that Hawks ownership preferred to wait until their season concluded before they would allow the two sides to talk. Now that the Hawks' season is over, a source tells CSNNW.com that “Sund to the Trail Blazers is not in his plans.” CSNNW.com

Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Rick Sund 

Seth Cohen: Jeremy Hazell to attend both mini-camp and play in the Vegas Summer League for the Atlanta Hawks #OCRteam Twitter

Atlanta Hawks, Summer League, Jeremy Hazell 

It seemed Larry Drew had a good chance of returning as Hawks coach after the team’s management declared the season a success. But they didn’t talk to Drew about his contract option during the season, and he still hadn’t heard from them a week after it ended. The team’s owners talked to general manager Rick Sund about returning while Drew waited to hear his fate. “I’ve done been around this thing long enough nothing really surprises me,” Drew said. “To be honest, I was on pins and needles. You just don’t know.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Larry Drew, Rick Sund 

Sund’s contract expires next month. He’s been in talks with the team’s owners about re-signing, but hasn’t committed to a return or publicly addressed his future; his other options include retirement or taking a part-time role with the Hawks or another team. Drew said he wasn’t sure if Sund will return. “I hope so,” he said. “But that’s going to be his call.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Rick Sund 

The Hawks said they’ve exercised the option on coach Larry Drew’s contract for next season. The team signed Drew to a two-year contract with an option in 2010. The Hawks have posted an 84-64 record with Drew as coach. They lost to Boston in the first round of the playoffs last week, ending a streak of three consecutive years in the second round. But the team’s owners and management cited the team’s 40-26 regular-season record as a success in light of several injuries to key players, including center Al Horford. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Larry Drew 

Atlanta Hawks Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund announced today that the Hawks have exercised Head Coach Larry Drew’s contract option for the 2012-13 season. NBA.com

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Larry Drew 

The support of Hawks players helped Larry Drew get the job as head coach in 2010. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Larry Drew 

“That’s something I take a lot of pride in and spent a lot of time talking about and trying to work on,” he (Larry Drew) said. “Player relationships are so important on this level, how you deal with your best player all the way down to the guy who might not even dress out during games. I thought I did a good job with that. I thought my staff did a good job with that.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Larry Drew 

The other finalists this year were Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks, Jason Terry of the Dallas Mavericks, and J.J. Redick of the Orlando Magic. NBA.com

Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, JJ Redick, Josh Smith, Jason Terry 

The support of Hawks players helped Larry Drew get the job as head coach in 2010. As Drew awaits word from the team if it will pick up his contract option for next season, he cites his relationship with players as his strong suit. “That’s something I take a lot of pride in and spent a lot of time talking about and trying to work on,” he said. “Player relationships are so important on this level, how you deal with your best player all the way down to the guy who might not even dress out during games. I thought I did a good job with that. I thought my staff did a good job with that.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Larry Drew 

However, sources close to (Josh) Smith maintain the veteran would wholeheartedly welcome a change of scenery if it meant going to a team ready to make deeper postseason runs. There lies the dilemma for the Hawks, where an important decision must be made regarding Smith. HoopsWorld

Atlanta Hawks, Trade, Josh Smith 

In an interview with Sports.ru in Moscow on Tuesday, Shved's agent Obrad Fimic said while no official NBA offers are on the table at this moment, five teams have shown interest in his client -- Atlanta, Houston, Oklahoma City, Minnesota and Memphis. As it stands, Shved remains under contract with CSKA but all signs point to him making the jump to the NBA, despite Fimic refuting a recent report that his client was asking upwards of $10 to $12 million on a three-year deal. Ridiculous Upside

Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Alexey Shved 

Sund’s current contract runs through the end of June and according to sources, he has been non-committal on extension talks preferring to gauge his own market value. HoopsWorld

Atlanta Hawks, Rick Sund 

Once the Blazers get around to hiring a coach, one potential candidate is Larry Drew, Atlanta’s head coach the past two seasons. The Hawks have a team option on Drew’s contract, and word is he is likely to be let go after their first-round elimination in six games by Boston. Atlanta has gone 84-64 in the regular season under Drew, 54, including 40-26 this year. The Hawks made it to the second round of the 2010-11 playoffs, losing to Chicago in six games. Portland Tribune

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Larry Drew 

The Hawks have to decide what to do with their team after their first-round loss to Boston. Expect to hear Joe Johnson's name linked to trade talks, potentially with the Knicks, among other teams, especially with Mike Woodson coaching the team. Johnson would solve a lot of ills, especially at the defensive end, where he can guard multiple positions. New York finished second to Atlanta when Johnson was free in 2010. It's just hard to imagine that Hawks ownership would take a shot on Amar'e Stoudemire, with $64 million left on his deal. But never say never. New York Daily News

Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, Trade, Joe Johnson 

Michael Cunningham: NBA fines #Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. $35k for publicly criticizing officials and negative comments about KG Twitter

Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Kevin Garnett, Owners, Michael Gearon Jr 

Michael Cunningham: NBA fines #Hawks F Ivan Johnson $25k for flipping the bird to #Celtics fans after Game 6. Twitter

Atlanta Hawks, Ivan Johnson 

The NBA admitted Friday that a tardy foul call on the Celtics late in Game 6 cost the Hawks an extra free throw. With 3.1 seconds left in the game and the Hawks trailing 81-79, Boston’s Marquis Daniels was called for fouling Hawks center Al Horford as teammate Marvin Williams was about to inbound the ball. By rule, if a personal foul is assessed against the defense before the ball is released on a throw-in, the offense is awarded one free throw and possession of the ball. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Marvin Williams, Al Horford, Marquis Daniels, Referees