Lloyd Pierce Optimistic About Chances With Hawks

Sixers assistant Lloyd Pierce feels good about his chances to become the next head coach in Atlanta after going through a second interview Tuesday, relays Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Pierce, who had a dinner meeting with Hawks ownership, is among four finalists for the vacancy, along with Trail Blazers assistant Nate Tibbetts, Hornets assistant Stephen Silas, and Celtics assistant Jay Larranaga. Pierce added that he isn’t sure when Atlanta officials will make their decision, but said his experience in Philadelphia prepared him for the opportunity.

“The main reason is just looking at their young players,” he said. “They got four guys in the draft. They got a couple of young players that are on their roster. So what’s most important when you are dealing with young players and young talent, it’s the development and relational side of that. It’s kind of my track record. It’s anybody’s track record of how do you communicate, how do you work with players, how do you develop, what does that mean?”

The Hawks will add to their young talent base in the draft, Pompey notes, holding the fourth-best odds at the top pick heading into next week’s lottery, along with two more first-rounders at No. 19 and 30 and a high second-rounder at No. 33.

After making the decision to start rebuilding, Atlanta fell to the bottom of the Eastern Conference at 24-58. It’s familiar territory for Pierce, who joined the Sixers in 2013 and has been through the darkest days of “the Process.” He is also considered to be a candidate for the opening in Milwaukee, but the Bucks haven’t contacted him yet, according to Pompey.

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