Hawks Searching For New Head Coach With Larry Drew Still Under Contract

According to ESPN, the Hawks are scoping out a few available head coach candidates to see if there’s one that’d fit well in Atlanta—and they’re doing so while the team’s current head coach Larry Drew, whose contract with the Hawks expires on June 30, remains employed. Meanwhile, Drew is free to look around at the open coaching jobs around the League and sign somewhere else if he so pleases. Ah, the classic “open relationship.” Here’s hoping no feelings get hurt in the process. More details: “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. There are currently job openings in Brooklyn, Detroit, Milwaukee, Charlotte and Philadelphia, plus the interim position in Phoenix. … 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. ‘I have great appreciation and respect for Larry and how he led our team this season,’ Ferry said in a statement to ESPN.com. ‘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.’ … 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.”