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Could Coach Budenholzer Leave Hawks for Suns?

By Chris Guest

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 6: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks looks on against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on April 6, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 6: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks looks on against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on April 6, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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In a not entirely surprising turn of events, the Atlanta Hawks have given permission to head coach Mike Budenholzer to interview for the Phoenix Suns head coach position, which was occupied by Earl Watson for 3 games then Jay Triano on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.

The verbiage of this news is striking, as it makes it seem as if Coach Bud approached Hawks brass about the position, instead of the Suns coming to the Hawks and saying “we’d like to interview Budenholzer for our head coaching gig.”

Budenholzer is still under contract for 2 more years at $7 million per year, and new Suns VP James Jones, a well-respected former player, has said that the Suns will no longer underpay for coaches and will make competitive offers for an experienced and talented coach – two things that Coach Bud certainly is.

It also must be noted that Coach Bud was not hired by the current management of the Hawks franchise, and, in fact, his General Manager was stripped during this offseason after some mismanagement over his two seasons as the combo GM/Coach.

This might be an opportunity for owner Tony Ressler and new General Manager Travis Schlenk to hand-pick a head coach that would be more in line with what the team wants to do. Who knows, perhaps two-time NCAA Champion Jay Wright of Villanova could take the reins of Hawks University and help this young team gel into a perennial contender – especially if the team selects Jalen Brunson in the latter stages of the 2018 Draft.

Lastly, Coach Bud’s parents live in Arizona and Budenholzer was born in Holbrook, Arizona, so the call of home might be too strong for Bud to deny.

There are certainly going to be many vacancies in the NBA this offseason, and it is still early to know if Atlanta will join the Knicks, Hornets, Suns, Bucks and Grizzlies in the head coaching search.

Next: Atlanta Hawks Mock Draft 3.0

If Bud truly wants out, it would be a shame, but maybe a clean slate would suit this team better going into the 2018 draft, when the franchise will be able to remake itself on the fly depending on where the picks land.

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