Budenholzer’s hiring should bring clarity for assistants

There soon may be some clarity for the Hawks assistants that currently remain with the team following the departure of head coach Mike Budenholzer last month.

The Hawks and Budenholzer mutually agreed to part ways in April, ending his five- year tenure. Budenholzer agreed to terms to become the head coach of the Bucks on Wednesday, ending just a 20- day stretch without a job.

Since Budenholzer left, his assistants have remained in Atlanta. Several have helped with pre- draftworkouts and several attended the introductory press conference of new head coach Lloyd Pierce on Monday.

Budenholzer has had discussion about bringing at least some of his assistant coaches to the Bucks, according to a person familiarwith the situation. Assembling his staff with familiarity was called a “top priority” but currently there is nothing official. The Bucks have yet to announce the hiring of Budenholzer. Lead assistant Darvin Ham, who was a candidate for the Hawks head job, is one coach likely to join Budenholzer.

Pierce, most recently an assistant with the 76ers, will likely want to assemble his own coaching staff. Although general manager Travis Schlenk and Pierce left open the possibility that there could be some holdovers.

“We’ve been candid and forthright with the staff from Day One,” Schlenk said Monday. “I would start by saying we have a very good staff in place here, but it’s important that Lloyd is comfortable with this staff. Over the next fewdays, he’ll take time, sit down and get to know these guys as best he can. Again, we need himto be comfortable, and we need people he’s comfortable with aswe move this forward.”

Much of the Hawks front office and Pierce are in Chicago for the NBA scouting combine following the draft lottery on Tuesday.

In addition to Ham, the Hawks assistant coaching staff is made up of Taylor Jenkins, Charles Lee, Ben Sullivan, Chris Jent and Patrick St. Andrews.