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Atlanta Hawks Hire Lloyd Pierce as Head Coach

By Chris Guest

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 26: Head coach Brett Brown (R) and assistant coach Lloyd Pierce of the Philadelphia 76ers look on against the Indiana Pacers during a game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 26, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers defeated the 76ers 107-94. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 26: Head coach Brett Brown (R) and assistant coach Lloyd Pierce of the Philadelphia 76ers look on against the Indiana Pacers during a game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 26, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers defeated the 76ers 107-94. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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After much deliberation, the Atlanta Hawks have hired Philadelphia 76ers Assistant Coach Lloyd Pierce as Head Coach of the franchise. This news comes after Pierce met with the team for the third time, denoting that he was the frontrunner for the position recently vacated by Mike Budenholzer.

Pierce has been the lead assistant with the 76ers for the past five years after assistant gigs with Memphis, Golden State and Cleveland.

The Hawks hope that Pierce’s experience dealing with Philadelphia’s “process,” or lengthy rebuild, can help jump-start the team’s own goals of creating homegrown talent through the draft — taking the time to help develop young players and make sure everyone is getting the attention they deserve.

Though Coach Budenholzer was clearly a gifted “X’s and O’s” tactician, he did not seem interested in helming a long and arduous rebuild for a franchise that won 60 games a mere three seasons ago.

With the hiring of Pierce, Atlanta hopes to get a development-focused coach who helped oversee a 40-win uptick from the Sixers over the course of two years.

The timing on this is also excellent, as the team wanted to put forth a unified front before the NBA Draft Lottery occurs on Tuesday. Pierce’s hiring will hopefully portend a Top 2 selection via ping-pong balls (fingers crossed).

With numerous young players already in place such as John Collins, Taurean Prince, Tyler Dorsey and DeAndre’ Bembry, Pierce should have plenty of talented young players to work with, and that’s not even including the four incoming top-33 draft picks the Hawks have via June’s NBA Draft.

The hiring of Pierce was widely lauded by those that have worked with him in the past, including his former head coach Brett Brown:

One of his most successful pupils, Robert Covington, also chimed in with high praise:

The Atlanta Hawks are in great position ahead of the NBA’s draft lottery, and we shall see what system Pierce implements on the court.

Next: 4 Possible NBA Draft Steals for Hawks

Though Coach Bud oversaw one of the most successful periods in Hawks franchise history, it was clearly time for a change, and Pierce should be able to usher in a new era of success with his rebuilding background.

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