Mike Budenholzer has interviewed for two of the NBA’s open head coaching positions so far this offseason, meeting with the Suns and Knicks about their vacancies. Budenholzer withdrew from consideration for the Phoenix job, but is reportedly interested in landing in New York.
The only problem? Budenholzer already has a coaching job, with two years and about $13-14MM remaining on his contract with the Hawks. While Atlanta has been willing to let Budenholzer interview for other jobs, the team has maintained that it’s open to bringing back its head coach for the 2018/19 season.
Michael Cunningham of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is skeptical, writing today that he finds it hard to believe that Budenholzer could remain the Hawks’ head coach going forward. As Cunningham outlines, Budenholzer wasn’t thrilled to lose personnel decision-making power to GM Travis Schlenk a year ago, and isn’t all that interested in working through a long rebuilding process in Atlanta.
A person familiar with Budenholzer’s plans tells Cunningham that the head coach would be ready to return to Atlanta if he doesn’t get another job, and the Hawks have maintained that they could be on board with that scenario too. But Cunningham views that scenario as untenable, since it’d be hard for Hawks players to commit to a lame-duck coach who may have his eye on other jobs.
The best-case scenario for both Budenholzer and the Hawks would for him to find another situation he likes, and for that team to offer Atlanta a fair compensation package to let him out of his current contract. That way, Budenholzer could move on to a more favorable situation and Atlanta’s new management group could hand-pick a new head coach after having gotten out from under Budenholzer’s contract.
If Budenholzer doesn’t get an offer though, or if a team that wants him isn’t willing to give the Hawks compensation to let him go, the situation could get messy. It wouldn’t be unprecedented if Budenholzer ultimately remains in Atlanta – Dave Joerger signed an extension with the Grizzlies in 2014 after they let him interview with the Timberwolves – but it wouldn’t be ideal either.
What do you think? Can the Hawks bring Budenholzer back? Will they have the opportunity to make that decision, or will he be offered a job by another team? Jump into the comment section below to share your thoughts!
i think he has bad timing. this years coaching pool is pretty deep and they dont need compensation attached. had he coached the team (even though they’re rebuilding) to a better year, he would probably have more value. i think he has created a lame duck situation for himself.
The situation is relatively simple – the Hawks are doing a complete reboot, yet he didn’t sign on for that and prefers to win. With that said, the Hawks are respectful of both his desire as well as his contract, thus allowing him to interview. Gets them out of the contract if he signs elsewhere, yet they get to keep him if he opts to return and they honor the contract. I think he Hawks are just hoping he gets a job somewhere else so they’re not on the hook for his contract.
So Atl wants compensation, it doesn’t happen. He returns. They fire him, pay him anyway.
Not when they’re are other teams that want him! It’s possible that the reason he withdrew from the Sins coaching search is because they didn’t make a decisive decision on what they where willing to give in compensation. Just like anything else, if you want the player and that’s the player you believe is right for you, you give up what you have to, to get that player. You don’t sit around and wait for the price to drop. Same goes for a coach! NY will not be the last team with interest in Coach Bud.
I would think getting out of $14,000,000 would be enough compensation, but to add draft picks?? Especially after they let him interview.
I think it will ultimately be a moot point, I think he’ll find a job, most likely in NY. While there are a dearth of candidates, none are without their warts. Jackson, Fizdale and Beaty, clashing with star players. JVG, too long away. Stack, no experience.
For some reason Bud wants to be in NY, and I think the Knicks would be smart to grab him.
I hate to see coach Bud go, he’s a great coach. However, he was not a good president of operations (I think that’s what he had). You can’t let players like Horford, Milsap leave with nothing in return just because you’re too close to the player. Then hand out Dwight Howard type contracts.
At this point it’s too late to have him back and truly have players bought in, but timing is really bad before draft. Firing Larry Drew cost us the Greek Freak and you’d hate to see that happen again