HoopsHype.com Rumors

Chris Mannix: Bucknell's Mike Muscala says he is only scheduled to interview w/two teams: Sacramento and Atlanta. Says he will do "9 or 10" workouts after Twitter @ChrisMannixSI

Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, Draft, Mike Muscala 

Nate McMillan interviewed for the Atlanta Hawks' coaching job on Wednesday, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo! Sports

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Nate McMillan 

Atlanta general manager Danny Ferry is going through the unorthodox process of conducting a coaching search while his current coach, Larry Drew, remains under contract until June 30. Yahoo! Sports

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Danny Ferry, Larry Drew 

Ferry has repeatedly praised the job Drew did while leading a team that had numerous players with expiring contracts. Despite the uncertainty, the Hawks made their sixth straight playoff appearance, though they were knocked out in the first round by the Indiana Pacers. That said, Ferry wants to make sure he's got the right guy on the sideline with massive roster changes looming this summer. "I have great appreciation and respect for Larry and how he led our team this season," Ferry said in a statement. "At the same time, it is my responsibility and in the best interests of the Hawks organization to consider all our options, and talk with other potential head coaches, before making a decision about who will lead our basketball team." NBA.com

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Larry Drew 

And the Hawks likely won’t allow Josh Smith to walk without compensation. To attract more suitors, the club likely will offer Smith on sign-and-trade deals. However, Smith is seeking the maximum, and interested teams may decrease. Boston Globe

Atlanta Hawks, Trade, Josh Smith 

With your situation (unrestricted free agent), is it safe to say you want to be back? Zaza Pachulia: How can’t I. I’ve been here eight years and I call Atlanta home. You guys know the relationship between me and fans. I would love to be back again. I’ve been in this situation, this is my third time being free agent and we all understand that this is a business. We’ll see when July comes and we’ll see what offers I get from what teams. I hope Atlanta will be one of them. How do you handle the uncertainty? Zaza Pachulia: I feel very confident. Not only for this year but for 10 years I’ve been playing in the NBA. Teams know me. So my main focus honestly is to take care of this foot and start working out and get back in shape. The goal is to obviously be the best shape possible for next training camp. This is something that concerns me more than free agency honestly. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Free Agency, Zaza Pachulia 

Is there any way you are allowing it to go through your mind that you won’t return here for a quote home-town discount? Zaza Pachulia: Again, I hope so. I really hope so. I totally understand that the Atlanta Hawks have so much work to do this summer. (There are) so many free agents and key players and the coaching staff. It’s hard to say anything. Once time goes you’ll have a better idea of the big picture but right now it’s very, very hard to say from my standpoint and from their standpoint as well. I totally understand. I have reason not to think about it because of my foot. Right now the focus is to get back on track. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Free Agency, Zaza Pachulia 

Atlanta coach Larry Drew is awaiting his fate, but with the Hawks having eight free agents, expect GM Danny Ferry to make wholesale changes. And the Hawks likely will not allow Josh Smith to walk without compensation. To atract more suitors, the club likely will offer Smith on sign-and-trade deals. However, Smith is seeking the maximum, and interested teams may decrease. Boston Globe

Atlanta Hawks, Free Agency, Trade, Josh Smith 

The Hawks have already talked to several candidates including former Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. Ferry is hoping to meet with Van Gundy in the near future. Yahoo! Sports first reported the Hawks' interest in Van Gundy. However, sources said, Van Gundy has told several teams who have reached out to him recently that he currently is not planning on coaching next season. ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Danny Ferry, Stan Van Gundy 

The Atlanta Hawks are taking an unconventional approach with their head coaching position. Current coach Larry Drew’s contract is up on June 30 and he and team general manager Danny Ferry have held several meetings this week concerning the future. But with the market for coaches wide open, both sides appear to be hedging their bets. The Hawks have informed Drew that they intend to talk to other candidates about the job. They have also given Drew the freedom to talk to other teams about jobs. ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Danny Ferry, Larry Drew 

Drew remains open to returning to the team but might draw interest elsewhere with so many jobs open. The Hawks will talk to others but could end up offering Drew a new contract. This is not the way coaching situations usually play out but this year's market is dictating some new approaches. ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Larry Drew 

A report that the Hawks are “aggressively” pursing Stan Van Gundy for the yet-to-be vacant head coach position is inaccurate. General manager Danny Ferry and his staff continue their efforts to determine the organizational direction of the franchise. There are numerous decisions to be made this offseason including who will be the head coach and what the roster will look like next season. The Hawks hope to talk to Van Gundy about the head coach position, perhaps in the next few days. They have already sought his feedback, as well as that from others, about general aspects of the organization. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Danny Ferry, Stan Van Gundy 

Van Gundy had a rocky relationship with center Dwight Howard during their tenure in Orlando. The Hawks will pursue the unrestricted free agent this summer with more than $33 million in salary cap space. The Hawks were interested in obtaining Howard before he was traded to the Lakers in August. The Magic did not want to deal Howard, from metro-Atlanta, to a divisional opponent. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Coaching, Dwight Howard 

Larry Drew, who coached the team the past three seasons and whose contract expires June 30, remains a candidate for the position. He has been informed of the organization’s plans to seek outside opinion. "I have great appreciation and respect for Larry and how he led our team this season," Ferry told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "At the same time, it is my responsibility and in the best interests of the Hawks organization to consider all of our options, and talk with other potential head coaches before making a decision about who will lead our basketball team. Larry and I have had open communication about this approach. If Larry and I continue to work together, we ultimately will be a stronger organization because of our discussions and this thorough process." Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Danny Ferry, Larry Drew 

Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer, whom Ferry worked with during his two stints in San Antonio, is also someone the team would like to speak to about the head coach position. Quin Snyder, an assistant with CSKA Moscow, is currently not candidate as mentioned in the report. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs, Coaching, Mike Budenholzer, Quin Snyder, CSKA Moscow 

The Atlanta Hawks are aggressively pursuing Stan Van Gundy for the franchise's head-coaching job, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo! Sports

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Stan Van Gundy 

General manager Danny Ferry has made Van Gundy his top target to replace Larry Drew, sources said. There has been contact between Ferry and Van Gundy, but the two sides have yet to meet in person. Yahoo! Sports

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Danny Ferry, Stan Van Gundy, Larry Drew 

Van Gundy hasn't made a decision about returning to coaching this year, but he holds Ferry in high regard, league sources said. Van Gundy has declined interest in the Milwaukee Bucks' head-coaching job. Yahoo! Sports

Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Stan Van Gundy 

Drew's contract runs out on June 30, and he's been informed the organization will start to talk with other candidates. While it's almost assured that Drew has coached his final game in Atlanta, there's a small possibility the Hawks could miss out on several of their top targets and return to Drew, sources said. The Hawks' shortlist includes San Antonio Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer and CSKA Moscow assistant Quin Snyder, sources said. Yahoo! Sports

Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs, Coaching, Larry Drew, Mike Budenholzer, Quin Snyder, CSKA Moscow 

There has been no decision on the fate of Hawks coach Larry Drew, less than a week after the season-ending playoff loss. A final determination may not be made until next week or perhaps later as the sides continue to step away from the recently completed season. General manager Danny Ferry gave no timetable for a decision on Drew, in the final year of his contract, during his end-of-season press conference Saturday. Ferry said that the organization would “take some time, some distance, give some space from the season and the playoffs and the emotion of that” before discussing the future of Drew and making other personnel decisions. That process continues. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Danny Ferry, Larry Drew