Hawks Owner Tony Ressler on Friday said that the team will "conduct a comprehensive search" for a new exec to run the basketball operations department, but hopes to "fill the position before next month’s NBA draft," according to Tim Tucker of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. In the interim, Ressler said the club has "plenty of depth and decision-making on board." With Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer relinquishing his duties as president of basketball operations and GM Wes Wilcox stepping aside, the Hawks "essentially will combine two layers of front-office management into one position with the new hire." Although Ressler said the new exec will be the GM, he "left open the question of whether that person also might get the title of president of basketball operations." Ressler said investor Grant Hill “gives us great input and will continue to, but I don’t think he has any interest in being president of basketball operations. Nor is he a candidate or whatever. He’s an owner, a friend and an adviser” (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 5/6). In Atlanta, Mark Bradley wrote nothing Ressler has done has "instilled great faith among a forever-dubious electorate, and this latest act makes him look capricious at best and silly at worst." Not two weeks after "expressing full confidence in his front office, Ressler is redoing that front office." With Budenholzer's reduced role and Wilcox being "shunted aside to do a job yet to be specified," there are a couple of questions to be answered. Bradley: "Will the new president and new GM be the same person? Will the new person(s) mesh with Budenholzer, who has grown accustomed to getting his way?" (AJC.com, 5/5).
TAKING APPLICATIONS: In Boston, Gary Washburn reported Wilcox will be "allowed to seek another job." The Hawks need a "charismatic leader who can sell the organization." There is "no reason why Atlanta shouldn’t be a vogue free agent destination." It has "enough night life and activity for any NBA player, and the organization has been moderately successful over the past decade after a rough stretch" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/7). NBA reporter Marc Stein cited sources as saying former Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars and Cavaliers GM David Griffin "are expected to emerge as candidates in the Hawks’ search for a new lead front-office voice." In Detroit, Rod Beard wrote it is an "intriguing development, as Dumars hasn’t latched on with another team since he left the Pistons," where he built the '04 championship team. Another "connection is Dumars’ relationship" with Hill (DETROIT NEWS, 5/6).
