With the Hawks interviewing candidates for his yet-to-be vacant head coach position, Larry Drew is preparing to part ways with team. Drew will interview with the Bucks for their head coach position Monday.
Drew told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday that in a meeting with general manager Danny Ferry earlier this week the two came to an amicable agreement to allow the coach to interview for other vacant positions in the NBA. The Bucks called for permission to speak with Drew, who is still under contract until June 30, and it was granted by Ferry.
“I’ve moved on from the situation,” Drew said. “We had a very professional talk just trying to get things in order to pursue other opportunities since I’m still under contract.”
There also has been interest in Drew from a second team. There are five openings for head coaches in the NBA — the Bucks, Pistons, Nets, Bobcats and 76ers.
Ferry said last week that he would interview other head coach candidates as part of his process to determine the future of the franchise. He said Drew would be under consideration to retain the job he has held for the past three seasons.
The Hawks have interviewed an unspecified number of candidates, including Stan Van Gundy, Nate McMillan and Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer, according to a person familiar with the NBA team’s search.
The door is not closed on Drew returning to coach the Hawks, where he spent the past nine years as an assistant and head coach.
“There is not a sadness,” Drew said. “This is a business. We left open that this could evolve back. If it doesn’t, I have to move on. That’s how this business works. I knew that. Nine years is a good run.”
Ferry and Drew have met several times since the season-ending playoff loss to the Pacers. They met again Monday to discuss the future. Ferry left for the NBA Scouting Combine in Chicago. Drew, after a meeting with his representation, began preparing to interview for other positions.
Drew led the Hawks to the playoffs in each of his three seasons, each with vastly different rosters. He compiled a 128-102 (.557) career record. Under Drew the Hawks advanced to the second round of the playoffs during his first season and suffered first-round losses the past two seasons. He reached 100 wins the second-earliest among Hawks coaches (173 games). Only Lenny Wilkens (166) reached the mark in fewer games. He ranks seventh on the franchise’s win list.
Few gave the Hawks a chance to reach the playoffs this season after the team traded All-Star Joe Johnson and revamped the roster in Ferry’s first season. The Hawks started 20-10, and Drew was named the NBA’s Coach of the Month for November.
While there is still a chance that Drew could return, the window is closing as he is considered for other vacancies. Drew said at his end-of-season news conference that he understood that fact that Ferry inherited him as head coach and that the GM would take time to consider what direction to take the franchise.
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