As the Hawks seek a new head of basketball operations, their top targets are believed to be Tim Connelly of the Timberwolves and former Warriors general manager Bob Myers, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype confirms.
However, as previously reported, Connelly is expected to sign a new deal to remain in Minnesota. As for Myers, people around the NBA believe it would take a “significant” salary and the perfect fit for the current ESPN analyst to return to an NBA front office, Scotto writes.
Other candidates on Atlanta’s list of potential replacements for former GM Landry Fields include Magic senior advisor John Hammond and NBA G League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim, league sources tell HoopsHype. Abdur-Rahim spent two-and-a-half seasons with the Hawks as a player, earning his lone All-Star nod in Atlanta.
Confirming a report from NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link), Scotto says the Hawks are parting ways with VP of pro personnel Grant Liffmann. Atlanta also isn’t expected to retain executive advisor Chris Emens, Scotto adds.
Here’s more from Scotto:
- The “prevailing expectation” is that Willie Green will keep his job as the Pelicans‘ head coach entering the 2025/26 season, league sources tell Scotto. However, he hears that New Orleans won’t be retaining coaching advisor Mike D’Antoni, who has been with the organization in that role since 2021.
- The “strong belief” around the NBA is that the Suns will be seeking a young, first-time head coach to replace Mike Budenholzer, according to Scotto, who identifies Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott and Thunder assistant Dave Bliss as two candidates expected to receive consideration. Ott was a finalist a year ago for the head coaching opening in Charlotte, while Bliss is the coordinator of an Oklahoma City defense that was the league’s best in 2024/25.
- After earning All-Defensive honors in the G League this season with the Rip City Remix, guard Isaac Nogues Gonzalez – one of 106 early entrants in the 2025 NBA draft – intends to keep his name in the draft pool, Scotto reports. He turned down a multiyear offer to play for Club Joventut Badalona in Spain, agent Michael Naiditch informs HoopsHype.
Just my opinion obviously, but the Suns potentially hiring the architect of the Thunder’s defense as their new head coach is not going to change the fact that the players chosen for the roster still have to have the skill and desire to play hard defense. This is a team that gets big minutes from Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. Even KD is getting to the point where his defense is declining. Budenholzer was also a defense-first coach when he started with the Hawks. So if they want to fix their defense, they have to figure out a way to navigate the cap restrictions and acquire some more defenders.
I don’t watch the Suns regularly, but I wonder if this resonates with Suns fans? I feel like this happens with teams that attempt to build super-teams. The Warriors and the Thunder really built their success through the draft.
Mat Ishbia, you better not go for a young guy. We’ve had enough Jordi Fernandez, Nate Bjorkgren, Igor Kokokokokokoskov, and Ryan Saunders goofs as head coaches already.
Jordi Fernandez is doing a great job in Brooklyn that was a weird example
Yeah, wasn’t the feeling around the NBA that the Nets weren’t tanking enough for a rebuilding team.
Well, I think the Suns have had their fill of veteran retreads at this point, so that’s not leaving a lot of options on the table…
Suns are going to have to find some diamonds in the rough. A great talent finding executive is needed. Ishbia thinks he knows basketball he has shown otherwise mighty.
I bet the Suns are considering D’Antoni
;-o