Atlanta Hawks: Big Changes for the Front Office First of Many

The Atlanta Hawks announced big changes to their Front Office Thursday. These changes, while significant, are only the beginning, and signal a period a coming alterations.

The AJC reported yesterday that Atlanta Hawks principal owner, Tony Ressler, will be announcing significant structural changes to their Front Office soon. These changes are a harbinger for many changes to come this off-season. Changes that will include High Staff and player personnel.

A brief look at the recent timeline for our beloved Hawks will provide some insight. Under the guidance of Mike Woodson beginning in 2004, the Hawks went from a (13-63) team to (53-29) in the 2009-2010 season. By all accounts a successful rebuild. But they couldn’t get past the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Most believed the team had reached its ceiling.

Larry Drew came in for three seasons and the most he could muster was a 44 game win season and 1st Round Playoff exits. That experiment didn’t last long. The feeling was that Atlanta was close, but underachieving.

Enter GM Danny Ferry and Coach Mike Budenholzer. After the first season of a (38-44) record, and 1st Round Playoff exit, and many personnel moves in the off-season, the Hawks exploded for 60 wins in 2014-2015, and garnered the 1 Seed in the Eastern Conference. We all know how that ended.

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But the idea was that it was just the beginning of a great run. That was not to be the case. Front Office and ownership drama ensued.

During a brutal internecine battle between two ownership groups, Danny Ferry was caught in a mini-scandal and was forced to resign. Regardless of whether you think that his resignation had to happen (still a hot topic), what is indisputable is that his departure has disrupted Hawks progress.

Ferry was out and the new owners made Coach Mike Budenholzer President of Basketball Operations and Wes Wilcox new General Manager. Wilcox reported to Budenholzer.

My problem then, and my contention still, is that this was too much for Budenholzer too soon. Not that he isn’t capable, but this is his first Head Coaching gig in the NBA…ever. To add the weight and worry of President of Operations to the already great responsibility of Head Coach seemed a bit much after only two years.

Sadly, the results bare that out. The Hawks, in those two years, have regressed to 43 wins again (2016-2017) along with a 1st Round Playoff departure, and personnel decisions, including draft picks, have been mostly misses. There were many times this year where the Hawks didn’t even look like what we thought a Mike Budenholzer coached team is supposed to look like.

Dwight Howard, while at times carried the team during the regular season, disappeared in the playoffs. Kent Bazemore was given a $70 million contract last summer, and any objective observer will contend he didn’t play to the contract this year. That’s just two of the 7 or 8 personnel problems or questions Atlanta has currently. Just two short years after a 60 win season.

So, here we are. Coach Budenholzer will go back to only coaching. Wes Wilcox will serve in some other capacity in the organization, and both will reportedly report to whoever the new GM will be.

It will be interesting to see who fills that role, because it will give an idea as to where the owners’ direction is flowing. It is also interesting because the new GM, most likely, will have input on which players stay and go this summer.

Next: Atlanta Hawks: Should They Bring Back Paul Millsap?

The facelift is coming Atlanta Hawks’ fans. Brace yourself, because it is going from the Penthouse to the basketball court. And I’m not just talking about Phillips Arena.

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