Pierce has second meeting with Hawks, believes he is good fit

The head coach candidate spoke to the Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Lloyd Pierce directs players against the Denver Nuggets in the third quarter of the Sixers' 114-102 victory in an NBA basketball game in Denver on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Credit: David Zalubowski

Credit: David Zalubowski

Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Lloyd Pierce directs players against the Denver Nuggets in the third quarter of the Sixers' 114-102 victory in an NBA basketball game in Denver on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Lloyd Pierce said an informal meeting with the Hawks about their vacant head coach position went well, but the 76ers assistant is not sure where he stands in the hiring process, according to an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer on Wednesday.

Pierce met with principal owner Tony Ressler and general manager Travis Schlenk in Boston on Tuesday. The 76ers play the Celtics on Wednesday night in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series.

Pierce told the Inquirer that he believes he is a good fit for the position that was vacated when the Hawks and Mike Budenholzer recently ended their five-year tenure.

“The main reason is just looking at their young players,” Pierce told the Inquirer. “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?”

Pierce, who turns 42 on Friday, has been an assistant with the 76ers since 2013 and has been a part of the organization’s total rebuild that came to fruition this season with a postseason berth.

Pierce is considered the leading candidate for the head coach position with the Hawks. Stephen Silas, Nate Tibbetts and Jay Larranaga are the other finalists. Pierce said he sees one difference with the Hawks, who won 24 games and ended a 10-year postseason run last season. While the 76ers rebuilt with all young players, the Hawks have several established players to go with four draft picks, including three first-rounders in the coming draft. Combining the old and new will be key, according to Pierce.

“So I would think that’s the advantage I play,” Pierce told the Inquirer. “I think that the direction a couple of teams are looking at, and trying to find the perfect mix and balance to address those needs I feel is important.”