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Will Hawks Coach Budenholzer Take the Knicks Job?

By Chris Guest

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 02: Coach Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 2, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 02: Coach Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 2, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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After withdrawing his name from the Phoenix Suns head coaching position, Atlanta Hawks collectively breathed a long sigh of relief. After all, why would Coach Bud leave the stable Hawks for a seemingly chaotic position with a seemingly directionless Suns franchise?

Then, news broke that Coach Bud would interview with the New York Knicks. Now here was an attractive job. Though probably not the best job on the market (that would in Milwaukee), playing under the bright lights at Madison Square Garden with a potential superstar in Kristaps Porzingis (not to mention Hawks University alum and lovable shimmy-er Tim Hardaway Jr.) would certainly be a striking proposition for Coach Bud – who has said he’s sick of losing (even though this was only the first year of a long rebuild). Also the Knicks only won 5 more games than Atlanta, so…

This is definitely a concerning turn of events for the Hawks. Coach Bud is a great coach, but he’s certainly unhappy about getting his personnel powers stripped when the team brought on Travis Schlenk as GM.

Though Bud’s work as GM was probably a net negative – letting DeMarre Carroll, Al Horford and Paul Millsap all walk for nothing in return and signing Dwight Howard to a massive contract were not the best moves ever – it was probably still jarring to go from pioneering the direction of the team to just coaching for the former Spurs assistant coach.

The Knicks are certainly one of the highest-profile NBA markets, as Madison Square Garden is almost always sold out for Knicks home games – no matter how terrible the team is.

Budenholzer would immediately upgrade the team’s strategic abilities, which were hamstrung for years by the wacky tenets of former president of basketball operation Phil Jackson. Coach Bud would also be able to mold young players like the Zinger and Frank Ntilikina, who could use a firm hand to help guide their careers.

So what would the Hawks get in return? The Knicks are one of the few teams that would be able to more than market value for Bud, which is almost certainly a determining factor in his decision-making process.

Many people point to the fact that the Clippers gave up an unprotected first round pick to pry Doc Rivers away from the Celtics and ponder why the Hawks could not do the same thing. Though that would be amazing, most teams are unwilling to part with first round draft picks, no matter who they’re for – especially a coach.

But who knows, Knicks owner James Dolan is a notorious wild card when it comes to decisions like these, so on a whim, Dolan might help swing this decision by including a future draft pick as compensation for letting Coach Bud out of his 2 year/$14 million with the Hawks.

Next: 12 Possible Free Agency Targets for Hawks

This is a developing story, so stay tuned as more info becomes available about Coach Bud’s future with the Hawks franchise.