http://www.ajc.com/hawks/content/sports/hawks/0504/28hawks.html Hawks coaching job has two faces: It's a big bust or a big chance By MICHAEL LEE The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 5/27/04 The Hawks have been without a head coach for three weeks. It might take another three -- or more -- before general manager Billy Knight hires someone to replace Terry Stotts. There are opposing viewpoints in regard to the attractiveness of the job. Knight contends that the vacancy is a great opportunity for any coach to build a team from the ground up. The Hawks have five draft picks in the June 24 NBA draft, and they have more than $20 million to spend on free agents. "I think this is an attractive situation," Knight said. Others maintain, however, that the job is career dead end -- especially in a time when coaches are more expendable than ever. "It's a bad job," said one Eastern Conference coach, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "When you decide to take a job, you have to ask yourself, 'Can I win in two or three years?' I don't know if you can say that in that situation." The Hawks do find themselves in a unique place. With just four players under contract -- Jason Terry, Boris Diaw, Chris Crawford and Alan Henderson -- the Hawks resemble an expansion team without the benefit of an expansion draft. They have not had a winning season in five years, which has allowed a losing atmosphere to permeate throughout Philips Arena since it opened in 1999. The Hawks had the worst attendance in the NBA last season and have been near the bottom the past three. And there is a perception among some around the league that the Hawks' new nine-member ownership group, Atlanta Spirit, will make it more difficult for anything to get accomplished in a timely manner. "When you have eight or nine owners, you're talking about them getting a consensus with the GM on what should be done," said Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Jim Cleamons said. "One person probably should be the voice for ownership. Otherwise, it will show a level of disorganization because there'd be too many voices." "It's somewhat of an unknown," said ESPN analyst and former Milwaukee Bucks coach George Karl, who added that he benefited from having a close relationship with Bucks owner Herb Kohl for about five seasons. Hawks owner Steve Belkin flatly denies that ownership will stand as a roadblock. "It's really not nine decision makers. It's really one decision maker -- and that decision maker is Billy," Belkin said. Knight said he won't waste his time listening to detractors. "I'm not worried about the perception," he said. "I don't foresee any problems." Knight's search has included veteran coaches with a proven track record (Dallas assistant Del Harris, Denver assistant John MacLeod and TNT analyst and former Hawks coach Mike Fratello) and longtime assistants who have yet to receive a head coaching opportunity (Seattle associate head coach Dwane Casey, Indiana assistant Mike Brown and Detroit assistant Mike Woodson). "It depends on the coach," Indiana Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said. "A younger guy might not see it as a good job. He might be intimidated by losing and what it could do to his reputation. With an older guy, I don't think you'd have that problem." Before Paul Silas took over the moribund Cleveland Cavaliers, the Cavs were in a similar situation. Attendance was awful and they were in the midst of a long playoff drought. Silas said a history of losing can affect whether a coach takes a job. "It should," Silas said. "It's very difficult to turn around a losing atmosphere. There is no magic wand that you can wave. It's not something that can happen overnight." That seems to be the one consensus about the Hawks' job: It will require patience. "It's a good job," TNT analyst Charles Barkley said. "You've got to be patient. They've got draft picks and they've got money. You've got to accept the fact they're not going to win next season, maybe two seasons." "You've got to give him at least four years," said Cleamons, who is not a candidate. "People see losing as losing, but when you're starting over, it's not losing, it's rebuilding." Knight said one of his goals was to change the atmosphere of losing. "We want people to see that we are moving in a different direction," he said. "We are trying to change the culture around the team, in the city. It's a tough task." And Karl said that begins with the coach. "This is an important hire for them," Karl said. "A lot of people think a coach isn't important right now, but this coach can be the person to turn that losing into winning. He can develop the personality of the team, the style of play. If you go there and be successful, it can be very rewarding." --

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