Hawks prevent assistants from leaving for other jobs

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sp...ssistants.html

Hawks prevent assistants from leaving for other jobs
Drew, Fizdale can't leave; must honor final year of contract with team

By SEKOU SMITH
The Atlanta Journal-Cons ution
Published on: 07/10/07

Two Hawks assistant coaches will not be allowed to leave for positions with other NBA teams even after they received permission to speak to those organizations, Hawks general manager Billy Knight confirmed Tuesday.

Larry Drew and David Fizdale are being required to honor the final year of their contract by the Hawks.

"That's our position," Knight said. "We're going to require employees under contract to honor those contracts. Obviously, if an assistant got a chance to be a head coach somewhere else that's a different story. But for another [assistant coaching] position, we're not going to allow them that la ude."

Knight declined to elaborate why Drew and Fizdale were given permission to interview for assistant coaching positions with other teams.

"This is going to be our position going forward into the future and this is the way we?re going to handle it," Knight said. "I know in most cases around the NBA this is not the normal practice. But this is how we're going to handle it."

Drew accepted a position to become the Sacramento Kings lead assistant under new coach Reggie Theus, the same position he holds with the Hawks under Mike Woodson. He was later told that he would not be allowed out of the final year of his contract.

Fizdale, who has also been with the Hawks the past three years, was offered an assistant coaching position with the Cleveland Cavaliers but will not be allowed to pursue that opportunity.

Both coaches declined interview requests from the Atlanta Journal-Cons ution Tuesday.

A move to Sacramento would have allowed Drew, whose family resides in Los Angeles, to move closer to his wife and three sons. His oldest son, Larry Drew Jr., is one of the nation's top-rated high school point guards and has already committed to North Carolina.

The move would have allowed Drew to be close as his son played his senior year.

Knight said he's also not worried about Drew and Fizdale coming back to the Hawks angry over not being allowed to pursue other opportunities that would have given each man job security beyond the end of the 2007-08 season, which they don't have with the Hawks.

"I'm not worried about it," Knight said. "These guys are professionals and they are good guys. They understand the business and that we have to approach this situation in a business way. The fact is, we expect to have a good year and go on from there."

[spurscenter]

So your gonna hold them hostage and make them love the hawks

nice move KNight

now you got 2 pissed off assistant that wanted to be first assistants. a move UP.

now if they can only tell players like Derek Fisher and co. TOUGH LUCK, your on our contract then this all would be gravvy.

[exstatic]

Wow. I really don't know what to say, other than it's the Hawks. Hey, Billy...how about fulfilling your contract by having your ing cell phone on for the trading deadline? Yes, that's one of the multiple horrible or grossly unprofessional things I've heard about that organization. Top players on the team unable to get treatment by the trainers on the road because said trainers were out getting drunk. Training camp invitees being stiffed on medical bills. Just add to that assistants being granted permission to interview with other teams, but not being granted permission to leave when offered jobs. I'm not a big fan of draft day shennanigans, but if I'm Larry Drew next summer, I'm privately making VERY clear to the Hawks that my son is not going to have his professional development hampered by even playing a few years for a ty organization like the Hawks, and if they drafted him, he would SIT OUT for a year and re-enter the draft.

[phyzik]

Knight and the Hawks are going to regret this... You just dont screw someone over like that and expect everything to be hunky-dorey.

[spurscenter]

Why even comment on this BILLY KNIGHT

shut the up BILLY KNIGHT AND HANDLE IT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

WHAT A ING MORON

Give the man a ing position/ le and he doesnt know how to act.

Stupid Mo Fo. I mean seriously.

[Darrin]

What if those Assistant Coaches mentally check out? This press release would make me want to quit.