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Hawks and Quin Snyder ‘are advancing talks to name him the team’s next head coach as Atlanta stands ready to make a SIGNIFICANT commitment’
The Atlanta Hawks and former Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder are “progressing talks” to make him the franchise’s next head coach, according to a new report.
It was reported Thursday that the two sides had begun discussions after Atlanta fired former coach Nate McMillan on Tuesday.
A day later, those talks appear to be going well, as ESPN reported that “a resolution could be reached within days.”
According to The Athletic, Atlanta also identified Bucks assistant Charles Lee, Kings assistant Jordi Fernandez, Warriors assistant (and former Atlanta assistant) Kenny Atkinson, Spurs assistant Mitch Johnson, and Miles Simon of the G League South Bay as candidates for the position.
But Snyder is reportedly the Hawks’ preferred option, and ESPN says Atlanta is prepared to make a “significant contractual commitment” to him.
Quin Snyder appears close to returning to the Hawks sideline after eight years in Utah
Snyder served as an assistant to Mike Budenholzer during the 2013-14 season.
If Snyder signs on to become the Hawks’ head coach, it will be a return to Atlanta for him after serving as an assistant to Mike Budenholzer in the 2013-14 season.
It was after that role that Snyder began his eight-year stint with the Jazz, where he made six straight postseason appearances but failed to make it past the second round with Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.
Snyder turned the Jazz into one of the best offenses in the league, at least in the regular season, and he would also have some good offensive talent at his disposal in Atlanta.
Trae Young (26.7 ppg) is one of the leading scorers in the NBA, Dejounte Murray has an efficient average of 20.7 points, and Bogdan Bogdanović and De’Andre Hunter have provided solid wing play.
Trae Young is averaging just under 27 points per game for the Hawks this season.
Coming off the All-Star break, the Hawks rank 16th in offensive efficiency and 21st in defensive efficiency.
And less than two years after the team’s surprise run to the Eastern Conference Finals, Atlanta is on the sidelines of the playoffs.
The Hawks, 29-30, are currently eighth in the East, 3.5 games behind the sixth-seeded Knicks, putting them in the play-in tournament.
They will resume their season on Friday against the Cavs, with interim head coach Joe Prunty leading the charge for now.