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MC: Will you try to sign Josh Smith to an extension? Rick Sund: I’m not going to get into contract stuff. MC: Josh had a great year production-wise but– Sund: I think it was the best year Josh has had, at least in the four years I’ve been here. I’ve said it for the record and I’ll say it again: Irrespective of how the voting came out, he should have been an All-Star. I thought Josh had an absolutely terrific year. He did a great job of making sure, hey, we lost some huge production with [Al] Horford and he picked it up. MC: But his offensive efficiency fell off, and a large part of that is because he’s taking more shots away from the basket and not shooting– Sund: You have to ask those questions to Larry. MC: But from a personnel standpoint, do you think he fits with what Larry is trying to do offensively? Sund: Yes. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Josh Smith, Rick Sund 

MC: Is it your perception Josh is still happy being here with the Hawks? Sund: I’m going to have his exit interview sometime this week. But, yeah, when you read the things of him saying . . . He’s such a competitor. I was talking to his dad the other day, and he mentioned we all think we should be playing, and that’s great. And [Josh] is one of them. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Josh Smith, Rick Sund 

MC: Do you plan to extend a tender to Ivan [Johnson]? Rick Sund: I’m not going to comment on that right now. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Rick Sund, Ivan Johnson 

Sund’s contract expires at the end of June, and he’s had discussions with the team’s owners since the season ended nearly three weeks ago. But Sund said no agreement has been reached to return for a fifth season. “We have had a little bit of discussion, but we’ve been focusing so much on putting closure to the season,” Sund said Wednesday. “Nothing has been resolved at this point. We will have some more discussions, and then the process will play itself out at some point and time. “I’m here until July 1. Have I thought about [his future]? Yes. Have I focused on it? No, because we just have too much that had to be done here in the last two weeks.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Rick Sund 

When the Hawks picked up the option on Larry Drew's contract for next season, the Atlanta coach still wasn't sure who his general manager would be. But in the past week, GM Rick Sund has told friends he intends to stay on for at least one more year, league sources told CBSSports.com. Sund, 60, had been weighing a variety of options, which included taking a year off. But after committing to Drew as the team's coach for another season May 18, Sund began telling colleagues around the middle of last week that he'd stay with the Hawks for another season and then "take it from there," one of the people familiar with the decision said Wednesday. CBSSports.com

Atlanta Hawks, Rick Sund 

Nearly three weeks after the end of the Hawks’ season, general manager Rick Sund’s future with the team remains up in the air. Sund’s contract expires at the end of June and he’s had discussions with the team’s owners about re-signing. But Sund said today no agreement has been reached to return for a fifth season. “We have had a little bit of discussion but we’ve been focusing so much on putting closure to the season,” Sund said. “Nothing has been resolved at this point. We will have some more discussions and then the process will play itself out at some point and time. I’m here until July 1. “Have I thought about it? Yes. Have I focused on it? No, because we just have too much that had to be done here in the last two weeks.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Rick Sund 

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 

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 

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 

With the Atlanta Hawks eliminated from the playoffs, changes could be in order on the court and in the front office. General manager Rick Sund, in the last year of his contract, has drawn interest from the Portland Trail Blazers, according to sources. ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Rick Sund 

The Blazers recently asked the Hawks for permission to speak to Sund, but Hawks ownership refused to grant permission until its season ended. Sund agreed with ownership's stance. "I don't want to discuss anything until the end of the season," Sund said by telephone before Thursday's season-ending 83-80 loss to the Boston Celtics. "At the end of the season, we'll address the future." ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Rick Sund 

Sund's contract ends on June 30 and the Hawks have attempted to initiate talks about a contract extension. However, Sund, in his fourth year in Atlanta, has insisted on keeping his options open, the sources said. ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Rick Sund 

Lang Greene: Larry Drew said #Hawks may explore trades to help compensate for loss of Al Horford, but said he hasn't spoke with EVP / GM Rick Sund yet Twitter

Atlanta Hawks, Trade, Al Horford, Larry Drew, Rick Sund 

GM Rick Sund said the Hawks still “have never been a taxpaying team and our goal is not to pay the tax,” an approach that essentially means the team is out of the running to re-sign Jamal Crawford or use the free-agent guard in a sign-and-trade transaction. “It’s going to be difficult to sign Jamal in a straight signing transaction,” Sund said. “We are looking at other alternatives, of course. You always look at everything but it’s not nearly as easy as if you had four months. Four days instead of four months makes it more it more difficult.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, Trade, Jamal Crawford, Rick Sund 

The Hawks won Game 1 against Chicago and led late in Game 5 before fading and losing in six. “I thought we were pretty close this year,” Sund said. “Last year they were disappointed by the embarrassment [against Orlando]. ... This year they were disappointed that the opportunity was there, they were close, and they didn’t get there. There’s a big difference.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Rick Sund 

A lot of the NBA's big management names attended draft workouts at Target Center on Monday afternoon: Larry Bird, Mitch Kupchak, Rick Sund, John Hammond, Monty Willams, Avery Johnson and Flip Saunders all were there. So, too, was Kurt Rambis. Yep, Rambis was there, watching from back in the weight room when media was let in near the end of the first of two workouts this afternoon featuring late first-round and second-round prospects. What does it mean? I'm told it's not a signal one way or the other on his future as Timberwolves coach. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, Washington Wizards, Draft, Avery Johnson, Mitch Kupchak, John Hammond, Larry Bird, Rick Sund, Flip Saunders, Kurt Rambis 

The Hawks had some meetings before Rick Sund headed off for Chicago but they weren’t detailed discussions about the team’s direction. The Hawks essentially are on the sidelines waiting to see what happens with the CBA. It’s hard for them to make plans that could become moot under the new rules. ASG’s talks with a potential buyer for the team don’t seem to be affecting the basketball operations side of the organization. The key line in the story by the AJC’s Tim Tucker’s: “[A] deal is not close and that it’s far from assured one will get done.” So it’s business as usual for the Hawks–or at least it would be if not for the uncertainty about the CBA. I wish I had more for you but everything is pretty much on hold right now. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Rick Sund 

Hawks owners informed general manager Rick Sund his contract will be extended through the 2011-12 season, according to a person with knowledge of the decision. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Rick Sund 

Hawks owners informed general manager Rick Sund his contract will be extended through the 2011-12 season, according to a person with knowledge of the decision. Sund’s return was expected after the Hawks snapped a 15-game losing streak in the second round of the playoffs. His major decisions include replacing coach Mike Woodson with Larry Drew and signing guard Joe Johnson to a $123.7 million free-agent contract. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Rick Sund