In the mazy world of the Atlanta Spirit, you can't tell the players even with a scorecard. Three of the five main jobs are open, and the other two could be in flux. In that, ahem, spirit, we offer this guide to who could be coming, who could be going, and who's making the calls.

Position: Hawks general manager

> Nuts and bolts: The job opened when Billy Knight resigned 16 days ago. Michael Gearon Jr., one of the many Spirit owners, is heading the search for a replacement. "I'm running that process, with help from my partners," he said Wednesday. There's now a short list of candidates, and it includes both seasoned NBA executives and what Gearon called "the next generation." (He declined to name names.)

> Likely suspects: The Hawks are believed to be high on Chris Grant, who was Knight's assistant here and who's now the assistant GM in Cleveland, and Tom Sheppard, who's an assistant to Ernie Grunfeld with Washington.

> Unlikely suspect: Dennis Lindsey, the assistant GM in San Antonio, withdrew his name from consideration Tuesday after being identified by ESPN.com as the front-runner. The Hawks, however, might not have been nearly so enthralled.

> Hiring timetable: Probably not long after Memorial Day.

> Prediction: Chris Grant

Position: Thrashers coach

> Nuts and bolts: The job opened Oct. 17, 2007, when Bob Hartley was fired. GM Don Waddell coached the rest of the season, associate coach Brad McCrimmon declining an offer to become head coach after the All-Star break. Waddell will hire the new coach —- "that's 100 percent," he said Wednesday, speaking from Toronto, where he's following the Chicago Wolves, the Thrashers' minor-league affiliate, in the Calder Cup playoffs. He hasn't interviewed anyone or asked permission to interview anyone. "I've been recognizing all the potential candidates and doing research," Waddell said.

> Likely suspects: John Anderson, who coaches the Chicago Wolves; Paul Maurice, who was fired by the Maple Leafs; and McCrimmon.

> Unlikely suspects: Ron Wilson, who was fired by San Jose, and Peter DeBoer, who coaches the minor league Kitchener Rangers. DeBoer could be headed for the Maple Leafs and, with six NHL teams looking for coaches, Wilson could see other jobs as more inviting.

> Hiring timetable: Early June, according to Waddell.

> Prediction: Paul Maurice

Position: Hawks coach

> Nuts and bolts: Mike Woodson has been in place since 2003 and has a career record of 106-222. His contract expires on July 1. Gearon said two weeks ago, "Mike deserves an opportunity to see what he can do with this team." But no extension has been announced, and there's a chance the new GM will want his own man.

> Prediction: Even if the new GM isn't crazy about Woodson, he'll be overruled by ownership.

Position: Thrashers general manager

> Nuts and bolts: Waddell said last month, "I'm going to continue as GM," but a subsequent ESPN.com report held that he "has been asked ... to give up his duties and accept another management position." Gearon denied the report but hasn't yet given Waddell a long-term blessing. (Said Gearon on Wednesday: "Don will continue to be GM," without specifying for how long.)

> Prediction: Waddell will hire the coach and run the June draft and keep his title as general manager but will be augmented by a director of hockey operations, to be hired later in the summer.

Position: Hawks and Thrashers president

> Nuts and bolts: Bernie Mullin technically resigned in January, after which Gearon suggested the vacancy wouldn't be filled. Mullin's job description was to run the business side of the Spirit and to act as liaison between the teams' general managers and the owners. It has been speculated that Waddell will replace Mullin after being nudged aside as Thrashers GM.

> Prediction: The Spirit will indeed hire a new president, but it won't be Waddell. The job will be smaller in scope —- the GMs will no longer report to the president —- and will be tailored strictly to the business side.

mbradley@ajc.com