The Atlanta Hawks have not been mentioned in connection with many head coaching candidates since the regular season ended, and that could be because they have already narrowed their list down to one name.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Lloyd Pierce has emerged as the frontrunner to land the Hawks job.
Story filed to ESPN: Philadelphia 76ers assistant Lloyd Pierce has emerged as the primary focus of the Atlanta Hawks head coaching search. Pierce traveled to Atlanta today and met with team officials for a third time in the process.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 11, 2018
Pierce, of course, was still coaching with the 76ers as of Wednesday night, but the team has since been eliminated from the postseason by the Boston Celtics.
Pierce has been an assistant coach in the NBA since 2007, having worked with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies prior to joining the Sixers. The Hawks are looking for a new head coach to lead their stripped-down roster after they fired Mike Budenholzer following the season. With some of the top names already being signed, it makes sense that Atlanta could have to hire a first-time head coach.
