Hawks general manager Rick Sund intends to return to Atlanta for at least one more season, reports Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. The Hawks recently picked up the option on head coach Larry Drew's contract after leading the team to a 40-26 record and a playoff appearance. Sund considered taking a season off but decided last week that he wanted to continue his work with the Hawks after speaking with friends and colleagues.
“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."
Sund has many options on the table if the 60-year-old executive elects to call it a career as general manager for the Hawks, writes Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He could chose to serve as an adviser for the Hawks or for another franchise, but had also been mulling retirement. Under four seasons with Sund running the front office, the Hawks had reached the second-round of the playoffs for three consecutive seasons until losing to the Celtics this year.
After taking over for Billy Knight in 2008, Sund has stated his goal of making the Hawks one of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. “Having said that, we have to look at our club and say where are the areas we can improve, what can we do without taking a step back,” he said. “So we will have to explore all opportunities.”
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