Quin Snyder‘s coaching staff in Atlanta has grown by two members, according to Lauren Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (subscription required), who reports that the Hawks have hired Steven Klei as an assistant coach and Jeff Watkinson as an assistant with a focus on “integrative basketball development.”
As Williams outlines, both Klei and Watkinson worked with Snyder in Utah, though Watkinson is no stranger to Atlanta, having previously served as the Hawks’ strength and conditioning coach. According to Snyder, Watkinson is taking on something of a hybrid role in his second go-round with the team.
“He’s working right now with the front office in a player-development role,” Snyder said. “It’s kind of (the) line is blurred as far as him being able to do some stuff on the floor. That’s kind of something we’ve talked about, (Hawks general manager) Landry (Fields) and I, you want that type of intersection in different things, and some of it’s organic.”
Besides the two new additions, Snyder’s coaching staff is otherwise made of Nate McMillan‘s old assistants. According to Williams, most of those coaches still have at least one year left on their contracts, though it’s unclear what sort of changes Snyder might make to the staff during the offseason.
Here’s more on the Hawks:
- In a conversation with David Aldridge of The Athletic, Snyder explained why the Hawks’ coaching job appealed to him and discussed the challenges of stepping into the role midway through the season. Snyder said his conversations with Hawks owner Tony Ressler, Fields, and assistant GM Kyle Korver (who played under Snyder in both Atlanta and Utah) helped convince him to take the job. “I didn’t anticipate this happening now, but it was intriguing enough,” Snyder said. “And then the more I learned about it, it just made sense to me, even though the timing wasn’t what you thought it would be, that it made sense to do.”
- Bobby Marks of ESPN provides some additional information on Bogdan Bogdanovic‘s new extension with the Hawks, tweeting that the deal will begin at $18.7MM next season, then decline a little in subsequent seasons before staying flat for the final two years. The contract includes a $16.02MM team option in the fourth year, Marks adds.
- Having locked up Bogdanovic, the Hawks now have approximately $162MM in guaranteed salaries on their books for 2023/24, according to Marks. Next season’s projected tax line? $162MM.
I’m puzzled by this extension. With so much money on the books now, this move leaves us in bondage with what we’re able to do with the rest of the roster in the offseason.
I’m a fan of Bogi; I just figured we needed all the dollars possible to entertain the retention of Murray when the time comes.
With what we gave up in the trade for Murray, where does the financial flexibility come from if we dare offer Dejounte (assuming he still wants to be part of a soap opera organization) an extension? Unless, we begin speculation that Trae will be an asset we must move on from..
I honestly thought it was weird too. I thought they were a little sower on him lady year. Either Murray to pg or they just want a good back 2 guard
You don’t trade Trae
GMs believe that they can trade Collins and a pick for a rookie contract in 2024
So they should be content with losing..
Snyder better do right by Nate’s assistants. It isn’t their fault Trae got their dad fired. Would be a bad look if he leaves them in the lurch just to employ his own friends…
Korver did not play under Snyder in Milwaukee. Snyder has never been employed by the Bucks.
My brain flipped Snyder and Budenholzer at some point while writing that sentence due to the Atlanta connection. Thanks, that’s been fixed.