Adrian Wojnarowski: Atlanta tried to take a big swing for Olshey, Portland’s President of Basketball Operations. Blazers ownership didn’t budge.
More on Hawks Front Office
Adrian Wojnarowski: Hawks search is ongoing, but probing on Olshey shows a possible willingness to spend significant money for elite executives.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Sources: Atlanta requested the opportunity to talk with Portland GM Neil Olshey about its vacant GM job, but was denied permission.
Marc Stein: The Atlanta Hawks were granted permission to interview Wizards executive Tommy Sheppard for their front office search, league sources say.
Brian Lewis: But a source told me as of yet, the #Hawks haven’t contacted the #Nets for permission to talk to Langdon.
Ian Begley: The New York Knicks have granted the Atlanta Hawks permission to interview Knicks Director of Player Personnel Mark Hughes for their general manager opening, league sources confirm to ESPN. Hughes, a veteran executive with the organization since 2007, has been one of the key figures in the Knicks' recent draft success, which includes Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Channing Frye and Danilo Gallinari. The Knicks, of course, have made some poor picks in that span but have been largely successful in the draft. The Hawks' interest in Hughes - and the Knicks' granting permission for an interview - was first reported by The Vertical. Hughes was a co-captain of the 1989 National Championship team at Michigan and has coaching experience as an NBA assistant and CBA head coach.
Atlanta is considering a number of candidates, including Griffin, Joe Dumars, Houston vice president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas, and New York Knicks director of player personnel Mark Hughes, sources said. Altanta is also planning to discuss the GM opening with television analysts and former players Chauncey Billups and Brent Barry, league sources told The Vertical. Houston has granted permission to Atlanta to discuss the opening with Rosas, its No. 2 executive behind GM Daryl Morey, league sources said. New York has granted permission on Hughes too, league sources said.
What’s up with the Atlanta Hawks rumor? Dumars, 53, didn’t add to the rumor mill on his second straight appearance on ESPN’s daily NBA talkfest, “The Jump" this week. Dumars said: “It’s an honor to be considered for any of these jobs. There’s only 30 of these jobs in the world. If I’m fortunate enough to be with the Hawks or anyone else, I look at it as a great opportunity because these are tough jobs.”
Joe Dumars: “I have a lot of respect for anybody that’s doing these jobs because I know how hard it is. I don’t have any news to announce so in terms of the Hawks, I don’t have any news to announce. I’m one of the names and we’ll see what happens.”
Chris Vivlamore: Had someone mention Mitch Kupchak as possible Hawks GM candidate. Not sure if interest but 'they would be lucky to have him.'
Chris Vivlamore: According to multiple sources, Hawks still in infancy stage of GM search. Still trying to determine attributes of desired candidate.
Marc Stein: League sources say Joe Dumars and David Griffin are expected to emerge as candidates in the Hawks' search for a new lead front-office voice
Marc Stein: Dumars, of course, played alongside Hawks minority owner Grant Hill in Detroit; Griffin was a Suns executive when Hill arrived in Phoenix
In a restructuring of the front office, the Atlanta Hawks are beginning a search for a new president of basketball operations/general manager to oversee the franchise, league sources told The Vertical. Coach Mike Budenholzer will relinquish his president of basketball operations duties, and GM Wes Wilcox will transition into another significant front-office position, league sources told The Vertical.
Majority owner Tony Ressler is starting a search to hire a new executive at the top of the Hawks masthead. Minority owner Grant Hill will be a significant part of the search process too, but Hill has yet to show any inclination to take on full-time basketball operations duties, league sources told The Vertical.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Sources: Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer will relinquish president's duties, GM Wes Wilcox will remain in a high-ranking front office role.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Sources: In management restructuring, Atlanta will start search for new head of basketball operations with Budenholzer and Wilcox staying.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Sources: Budenholzer's been willing to drop president's title, without losing strong voice in player personnel -- which is what's happening.
In what could turn out to be a dramatic management restructuring of the Atlanta Hawks’ front office, owner Tony Ressler is seriously discussing with president and coach Mike Budenholzer the possibility of Budenholzer relinquishing his management title, league sources told The Vertical.
The Hawks are also considering the removal of general manager Wes Wilcox, league sources said. Wilcox reports to Budenholzer in the current organizational structure.
The Atlanta Hawks have parted ways with general manager Wes Wilcox, a source told ESPN. Wilcox was promoted in June 2015 from assistant general manager, where he worked alongside Danny Ferry.
Jeff Zillgitt: Hawks saying no changes have been made to front office. Doesn't mean there won't be either. pic.twitter.com/ODvQ8shxc5
Adrian Wojnarowski: Sources: Hawks ownership is still discussing Wes Wilcox's future as GM of the franchise. Decisions could come as soon as today.
Jeff Goodman: Atlanta Hawks have parted ways with GM Wes Wilcox, sources told ESPN. Story coming. espn.com/espn/now?nowId…
David Baumann: As I said this AM, Grant Hill told me, "No, I'm not interested. I thoroughly enjoy my ownership role as Vice-Chairman of the Atlanta Hawks. - RT: Marc Stein: Orlando has interest in Grant Hill as its new face of basketball ops, but league sources say Hill has no plans to leave Atlanta ownership.
David Baumann: Exclusive: Just heard from Grant Hill on whether he'd like consideration for any @OrlandoMagic front office vacancy... #Magic. "I'm not sure where that rumor came from, but NO, I'm not interested. I thoroughly enjoy my ownership role as Vice-Chairman of the Atlanta Hawks. Grant Hill That keeps me plenty busy"
Sources tell the Orlando Sentinel that Magic officials have interest in former NBA All-Star and former Magic player Grant Hill to work as president of basketball operations. But it’s unclear if Hill has interest in the job. Joining the Magic would require Hill to divest his small ownership stake in the Atlanta Hawks. If Hill doesn’t have interest, candidates for the general manager job likely would include Detroit Pistons associate general manager and former Magic player Pat Garrity and Golden State Warriors assistant general manager Travis Schlenk.
The Atlanta Hawks have appointed Malik Rose as general manager of their NBA Development League affiliate in Erie, Pennsylvania, beginning next season. Rose also will maintain his duties as manager of basketball operations for the Hawks, who made the announcement Tuesday. The Hawks' new D-League franchise will play in Erie the next two seasons before relocating in 2019 to a 3,500-seat arena that will be built in College Park , adjacent to Atlanta's airport and only about 10 miles from Philips Arena.
Chris Vivlamore: Malik Rose says he eventually would like to be an NBA GM.
Chris Vivlamore: Malik Rose says job No.1 is to hire head coach for Erie.
Chris Vivlamore: The Hawks have promoted Malik Rose to general manager of D-League's Erie BayHawks.
Atlanta Hawks General Manager Wes Wilcox: "I think it's fair to classify the Atlanta Hawks as buyers."
Members of current Hawks management have a previous relationship with the BayHawks. Wilcox helped create and run the BayHawks while he worked for the Cavaliers. The BayHawks were a multi-affiliated franchise at their start. John Treloar, the Hawks current director of player personnel, served as the coach of the BayHawks for the first two seasons. Wilcox helped run the BayHawks for a third season before the Cavaliers bought the D-League franchise in Canton. Wilcox served as that franchise’s first general manager until he joined the Hawks as assistant general manager in 2012.
Chris Vivlamore: Told by several in Hawks organization that more announcements are coming. I expect area surrounding Philips to be one and likely soon.
Hawks Chief Executive Officer Steve Koonin signed a new three-year contract with the team this summer. Koonin’s original contract was with the previous ownership group after he joined the organization in April of 2014. The new contract is with the present ownership group, with principal owner Tony Ressler who purchased the team in June 2015.
The Hawks have hired Richard Midgley as their west coast scout. Midgley spent the past two seasons at the head basketball coach at his alma mater Modesto Christian High School in California. He will leave the program for his new position.
The Hawks are expanding their regional scouting network. West coast scouting was previously part of the responsibility of John Treloar, the team’s director of player personnel. The hire of Midgley will allow Treloar to play a larger role with the Hawks.
Jeff Peterson, who was recently promoted to assistant general manager from director of scouting, also handles scouting duties in the southeast. The Hawks intend to find a scout in that region. The Hawks are also looking to add to their overseas scouting staff.
Hawks executive Andrew Steinberg is leaving the organization, according to a person familiar with the situation. Steinberg was named to a newly created position of Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer in August. He headed several strategic projects including a new practice facility, the reimaging of Philips Arena and the pursuit an NBA Development League franchise as a Hawks affiliate.
Steinberg sent an e-mail announcing his decision within the Hawks organization Monday morning. When the Hawks announced the new position for Steinberg, who had previously served as Chief Revenue Officer, they announced Andrew Saltzman as Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer. CEO Steve Koonin and Saltzman did a wide-ranging interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, published last week, on a number of topics including the expected announcement of a site and naming-rights partner for the practice facility in the first quarter of 2016 and efforts toward a major Philips Arena renovation.
