Bud addresses the rumors

[JTB]

https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2018/4/11/17227084/mike-budenholzer-rumors-milwaukee-bucks-atlanta-hawks-head-coach-future-exit-interview

 

Heres Jeff Schultz interview with Bud one on one about the rumors:

 

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Jeff Schultz

This AJC sports blogger takes things seriously when he has to, but he really would rather not

 

 By Jeff Schultz

Biggest Hawks’ question: Is Budenholzer coming back?

 

3h ago, April 11, 2018

   1

 

 

GREGORY SHAMUS/GETTY IMAGES

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer is under contract for next season but there have been rumor that he might be looking to leave.

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As the Hawks head into the offseason and the focus shifts to the obvious topics -- lucky ping-pong balls, potential draft picks and whether Dennis Schröder can make it through the summer without handcuffs – there’s one subject that has the potential to dwarf all others: Is Mike Budenholzer coming back?

This isn’t about whether the Hawks should bring Budenholzer back as coach. They should. That’s not even up for debate. He’s one of the game’s better coaches, and he’s under contract. Critics have a tendency to harp on him constantly screaming at players – as if that should suddenly be verboten for a coach – but he develops players and maximizes their talent.

Kent Bazemore had the proper perspective on Budenholzer and this whole he-yells-too-much thing: “We’re getting to the point where there’s a lot of sensitivity in the world and everyone thinks they need to be talked to or coached a certain way. He just wants the best for guys. I love when I get screamed at because it lets me know I’m not doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”

The real question regarding Budenholzer is whether he wants to come back. He gave somewhat evasive answers on the subject Wednesday. His non-committal responses were sandwiched between cheery phrases about how much he loved his job, his players, the city, his life. But this comes against the backdrop of rumors over the past few weeks that he’s more than mildly interested in the coaching vacancy in Milwaukee and that he might not be committed to sticking it out through the Hawks’ painful rebuild.

Budenholzer did a group interview Wednesday, the day after the Hawks closed their season with a loss to Philadelphia. Afterward, when I approached him alone for a few follow-up questions, it went like this.

Question: Can you address reports you’ve been working back channels to get insight on the Milwaukee job?

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Answer: “Not true.”

Q: Can you say with 100 percent certainty that you’ll be back as Hawks’ coach, assuming it’s up to you?

A: “I’m … literally the season just ended.”

Q: You are kind of not answering the question.

A: “Jeff, I’m not going there.”

Q: So there is a decision to be made?

A: “The season just ended. I literally just spent (several hours) with these guys (on exit interviews). I’ve been totally focused and totally devoted to this. I have genuinely enjoyed this, the city, everything. That’s where my mind is.”

I have no doubt Budenholzer was mentally drained. He opted to stay with the Hawks as coach after losing his title of team president and new general manager Travis Schlenk was given completely control of basketball operations. He did so because he loves coaching, and yes, he was being paid a lot of money to do so. Whether he really feels the need to take a step back and breathe before processing his future is the question.

This could not have been an easy season for Budenholzer. The Hawks lost 58 games, their most in 12 seasons and the second most in franchise history. Budenholzer hadn’t missed the playoffs since his first season as an assistant in San Antonio (1996-97).

But he said he found positives in this season. He shared them with the team collectively and players individually. Among them: the rise of rookie John Collins, the late-season improvement of Taurean Prince, the leadership of Kent Bazemore, the overall effort of players amid difficult circumstances of a roster strip-down.

Budenholzer acknowledged the season was a challenge for him personally. But, “I definitely feel like I grew as a coach. It’s easy to talk about development or day-to-day process when you’re having success. Your beliefs are tested when you’re not having the tangible rewards of winning. It pushed me to be a better coach.”

Is that enough for him to want to stay? Because he’s under contract, he can’t just leave – or theoretically even talk to another team – without the team allowing him to do so. The Hawks have a lottery pick, other draft picks and a ton of salary-cap space with which to improve the roster. But they’re not as far along as the Bucks, who have the multi-talented Giannis Antetokounmpo to build around.

Schlenk is operating on the assumption that Budenholzer is coming back because there has been nothing to lead him to believe otherwise.

“Fifteen minutes ago, we were just talking about our plans for our exit interviews tomorrow to make sure we’re giving the same message to players,” he said Tuesday night. “We’ve talked about some of the things we want to do. I’ve gotten zero indication that any of these rumors are true, even though they’re out there.”

Schlenk and Budenholzer have vastly different personalities. But they’ve worked through their issues, and Schlenk admires the way his coach has handled things.

“A lot of people on the outside had a lot of concerns: Here’s a guy who’s been in the NBA for 21 years, and he only missed the playoffs once. How’s he going to handle it?” Schlenk said. “But as we’ve seen, he and his staff have done a good job keeping guys energized.”

As for the rumors, Schlenk said: “I would just say: They’re rumors, to the best of my knowledge. Nobody has called me, but he’s a good coach. I could understand why other teams would have interest.”

Budenholzer did a nice job developing Collins. The 20-year-old power forward averaged more than 10 points and seven rebounds in his first season. If the Hawks have only one player who’s considered untouchable in trade talks, it’s him.

What did Collins think of playing for Budenholzer?

“It was fun,” he said. “He’s definitely very animated. I love his passion. It’s something I can bond with -- his competitive nature and the way he wants to win every game. I definitely would like to see the relationship grow.”

So should everybody. Starting over with a new coach would be a step back.

Edited April 11, 2018 by JTB

[sturt]

If I'm @KB21 tonight, I read that and think, "This is playing out almost exactly as I said the script called for."

There's no doubt that could have been a much stronger denial than Bud gave, and it's also true, imo, that Schlenk calling Bud "a good coach"... ie, not a "great" one or an "exceptional" one or "among the best"... may be factually truer than any of those more impressive terms, but leaves a lot to be desired if we're to think Schlenk is doggedly determined to continue to work with Bud.

I remain too skeptical to pitch a tent in either camp, except to say, those who thought Schlenk would let Bud walk are almost certainly wrong on that point.

[Plainview1981]

Bud has had one good season as a coach. ONE. That said, you're probably not going to find too many that are better right now.

[NBASupes]

Bud perception is better than his reality but that said, he's a damn good coach but he's not an elite one. That said, I think he made more steps to get there this year than last year. 

[Sothron]

I can see Bud asking to be let go or traded to the Bucks. I'm not saying that's going to happen or that I want that to happen but it could happen. This team is at least two to three years away from being a playoff team again and he might not want to stick around for that.

[Watchman]

8 hours ago, sturt said:

If I'm @KB21 tonight, I read that and think, "This is playing out almost exactly as I said the script called for."

There's no doubt that could have been a much stronger denial than Bud gave, and it's also true, imo, that Schlenk calling Bud "a good coach"... ie, not a "great" one or an "exceptional" one or "among the best"... may be factually truer than any of those more impressive terms, but leaves a lot to be desired if we're to think Schlenk is doggedly determined to continue to work with Bud.

I remain too skeptical to pitch a tent in either camp, except to say, those who thought Schlenk would let Bud walk are almost certainly wrong on that point.

I agree that Bud's denial could have been a lot stronger.  Schlenk's assessment of Bud as a "good coach" was hardly a ringing endorsement either.  I don't think this "partnership" will work out.  I was not encouraged by this interview, but of course Bud couldn't just come right out and say, "yeah, I'm leaving" before everything was set in place.

[hazer]

1st words out of Bud’s mouth: “Not true”.

[Watchman]

1 minute ago, hazer said:

1st words out of Bud’s mouth: “Not true”.

The question posed was specifically about the Milwaukee coaching job.  Just because he may not be in pursuit of the Milwaukee job doesn't mean he's totally committed to staying here.  He likes to win, and is ultra competitive.  I'm surprised he stayed here for this lousy season.

[Buzzard]

The Bucks don't have much to offer in picks. They have no 1st this year and with the two year pick rule they cannot trade next years 1st. I guess we could wait three drafts on the pick.

[hazer]

16 minutes ago, Watchman said:

Just because he may not be in pursuit of the Milwaukee job doesn't mean he's totally committed to staying here.

Doesn’t mean he’s not, either.

[KB21]

I've told y'all, Schlenk needs a fall guy for all the losing that is going to happen over the next 5 years.  He is going to allow Bud to leave, and he will hire some scrub coach who can take the losses.

[KB21]

Get ready for Jarron Collins or Stephen Silas to be the Hawks next head coach.

[hazer]

Isn’t it ironic, don’tcha think (you see what I did there), that the team where tanking doesn’t work and who won’t make the playoffs and who won’t win 50 games and who’ll be a 1st round exit just thumped, trounced, slaughtered, murdered, trampled, bludgeoned (without Embiid) the team (with Grik frik) Bud is so interested in coaching for to win their 16th straight game and lock up 3rd in the East? Yes, yes it is...

[JTB]

Some of you all really do try to “read between the lines” as much as possible. Lol

well let’s just say this, Bud may still leave I won’t disagree with that cause I don’t know the future but at the same time he did shoot down the Milwaukee rumors and to me there’s not a more attractive job than that one.

none of the other teams that will need a coach are as nearly loaded as the bucks. So as of right now I say bud is staying put and there’s no need to worry.

bucks were something to worry about. You can’t name a more attractive team than the bucks...every other team  who will be searching for a coach is barely more attractive than the hawks 

[KB21]

5 minutes ago, JTB said:

Some of you all really do try to “read between the lines” as much as possible. Lol

well let’s just say this, Bud may still leave I won’t disagree with that cause I don’t know the future but at the same time he did shoot down the Milwaukee rumors and to me there’s not a more attractive job than that one.

none of the other teams that will need a coach are as nearly loaded as the bucks. So as of right now I say bud is staying put and there’s no need to worry.

bucks were something to worry about. You can’t name a more attractive team than the bucks...every other team  who will be searching for a coach is barely more attractive than the hawks 

I can't name a more attractive team than the Bucks, but I can name several that are more attractive than the Hawks at this time.

[AHF]

13 minutes ago, KB21 said:

I can't name a more attractive team than the Bucks, but I can name several that are more attractive than the Hawks at this time.

You can't come up with a single more attractive team than the Bucks?  Golden State seems an easy place to start.

[KB21]

1 minute ago, AHF said:

You can't come up with a single more attractive team than the Bucks?  Golden State seems an easy place to start.

That are going to be available.

[AHF]

1 minute ago, KB21 said:

That are going to be available.

That is more reasonable.  I'd have to look at the list of potential openings to focus in. 

On the main topic, I'd say this offseason and next we'll just have to wait and see with Bud.  Might stay, might go.  TBD.

[KB21]

http://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/symbiotic-relationship-jarron-collins-and-his-humbling-high-school-coach

I figure you should start reading up on potential Hawks coaches.  First up, Jarron Collins.  

[JTB]

7 minutes ago, KB21 said:

That are going to be available.

Whatever available team you name outside the bucks is likely only in a slightly better position than the hawks.

you stating you can name a better team than the hawks doesn’t impress anyone. Can you name another team outside the bucks bud would really like to go coach ?