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Just a few days after officially parting ways with head coach Mike Budenholzer, the Atlanta Hawks are already in search of a replacement. The team first set their sights on a pair of Portland Trail Blazers assistant coaches in Nate Tibbetts and David Vanterpool, with the former considered as a “serious” candidate.
But you can add David Fizdale to the list as well.
The Hawks are interviewing David Fizdale today for their coaching vacancy, league sources say. The former Grizzlies coach has also been courted by the Suns and Knicks this month
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 28, 2018
Fizdale last coached the Memphis Grizzlies after being fired just 19 games into his second season after numerous injuries (of note, to guard Mike Conley who barely played the whole year) and just a season removed from leading them to a playoff berth.
Prior to that, the Los Angeles native was part of the Miami Heat's coaching staff for eight seasons and helped steer the “Heatles” of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh to a pair of championships. At one point, he even became an associate head coach — no doubt playing a critical factor in the Grizzlies' decision to hire him.
If the Hawks end up giving Fizdale the job, it will be full circle for him having served as an assistant for them from 2004 to 2008. At any rate, he will have a tall task ahead of him with the Hawks tied for the third-worst record in the league after finishing with a 24-58 slate and their first year out of the playoffs in ten seasons.
While the team is led in scoring by guard Dennis Schroeder, the surprising contributions of rookie John Collins and second-year player Taurean Prince, as well as the addition of a potential game changer through the lottery, may turn things around for the franchise.
