Current Hawks coach Larry Drew was pleased by his interview with the Bucks for their vacant position. Meanwhile, one of the possible replacements for Drew will not be Stan Van Gundy.
Drew interviewed with Milwaukee on Monday. He told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution via text message Tuesday that the meeting “went well.” Drew is under contract with the Hawks until June 30. In the meantime, general manager Danny Ferry is conducting a head coach search as he considers the direction of the franchise. Ferry granted permission for Drew to speak to other NBA teams about their head coach vacancies during the process. There is at least one other team interested in speaking with Drew. Currently, the Bucks, Pistons, Nets, Bobcats and 76ers have openings.
Ferry and Drew have left open the possibility that he could return as Hawks coach once the process is completed.
Van Gundy, who was one of several candidates to speak to Ferry about the job with the Hawks, told an Orlando radio station Tuesday that he will not return to coaching next season. Van Gundy spoke on 1080’s “The David Baumann Show” and called it a family decision.
The Hawks were aware of Van Gundy’s decision. The 53-year-old former coach of the Heat and Magic has worked as a broadcast analyst since being fired by Orlando in 2012. He lives in central Florida and works on the boards of several charitable organizations. He also reportedly turned down an interview with the Bucks.
That leaves former Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan, Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer and CSKA Moscow coach Ettore Messina, along with Drew, as known candidates with the Hawks. There are believed to be others.
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