Spurs Allow Budenholzer to Negotiate with Hawks (Edit: Bud Hired as Hawks' Coach)

[Andthentherewas21]

Congrats to Bud, as has been said before he definitely deserves a chance as a HC but it is kind of bittersweet that it isn't with the Spurs. That being said, how much does ATL offer Splitter to try and steal him away this summer?

[Chinook]

I remember reading early on this season that Vinny and Pop still talk all the time and Vinny asks Pop for advice (which he either ignores or doesn't understand)....

Or maybe Pop was doing the whole CIA-style career assassination.

[Spurs Brazil]

Congrats to Coach Bud. He'll be missed

[SpurPadre]

I guess Brett Brown is next in line to take over for Pop. Would Manu like to be a coach?

[CGD]

Enter PJ in 3.2.1...

[silverblackfan]

Congrats to Bud, but the timing is not ideal. The Spurs just keep losing quality personnel.
OTH, I love that Pop is slowly seeding the NBA with like-minded coaches. It can only help the League in the long run, and might benefit the Spurs in the future. Remember that Ferry is the one who recommended Danny Green. Maybe this is Pops counter to the Lakers, Heat, etc Stern sanctioned big money moves?

[John B]

Congrats to Coach Bud. He'll be missed. Now if he could talk Josh Smith into signing with Spurs.

[moisaenz]

Congrats to Bud, but the timing is not ideal. The Spurs just keep losing quality personnel.
OTH, I love that Pop is slowly seeding the NBA with like-minded coaches. It can only help the League in the long run, and might benefit the Spurs in the future. Remember that Ferry is the one who recommended Danny Green. Maybe this is Pops counter to the Lakers, Heat, etc Stern sanctioned big money moves?

CIA Pop, one day he might be commissioner

[dbreiden83080]

Wow, really? I have only seen him saying he was leaving with Duncan for years. Would be awesome news if Pop would be willing to stick around for the rebuild after Tim retires.

At his age what's his motivation to stay when the Spurs are not contenders anymore? Maybe he hates his wife..

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Happy for Bud and well deserved. He's getting a great gig at Atlanta, they've done the worst part of the rebuilding, got rid of virtually all of their bad contracts and are in a great position to build a strong team in the next 2-3 years, as long as Danny Ferry is smart enough with their enormous cap space. Even if they're unable to land Howard or CP3 this offseason they will be very aggressive in the market and could stockpile assets for the future. They could totally rob a team like the Grizzlies or Warriors who'd desperately need to shed salary.

Wish him luck.

[bigdog]

Very sad to see Coach Bud leaving. He's a fantastic coach, and when he stepped in for Pop when he was out, it was like Pop never left. I wish him the best of luck in Atlanta, but let's win this damn thing!

[Buddy Holly]

I'm honestly ok with this. The timimg could have been better. I don't know if I would have liked Bud taking over when Pop left. I think he's just too nice. I also think Brett Brown might be the actual replacement. I'd prefer him over Bud in all actuality. The results he's gotten out of the Australian national team using the Spurs system is a testament to how good a coach he is. He's also been here the second longest after Bud.

[100%duncan]

Damn. I was excited to see at least how Coach Bud handles the rebuilding of the Spurs. It was one of the bright spots that made me feel ok with the rebuilding because someone we know is good is replacing Pop. But now he's gone. Goodluck to him. But Atlanta's a crappile as we all know.

[manufan10]

People really want VDN to coach here? Has no one been paying attention the last few years? He's a horrible coach.

[manufan10]

BTW, this is all CIA Pop... giving Bud a chance to get some quality head coaching experience so he'll be primed and ready to take over the Spurs when Pop decides to retire. Good move.

[Mel_13]

Press conference at 10 AM Central time. Will be broadcast on NBATV and streamed live here:

http://www.nba.com/hawks/budenholzer-press-conference

[Mel_13]

[ace3g]

He will be coaching quite the team based on the jerseys in the background.

[Mel_13]

Presser streaming now.

http://www.nba.com/hawks/budenholzer-press-conference

[Spur|n|Austin]

We'll miss ya Mike -

[gameFACE]

BTW, this is all CIA Pop... giving Bud a chance to get some quality head coaching experience so he'll be primed and ready to take over the Spurs when Pop decides to retire. Good move.

It's not Pop driven but it's a good idea for Bud to leave the nest and build something himself elsewhere. Work with other coaches.

And Congrats, Coach Bud!

[manufan10]

We'll miss ya Mike -

[Keepin' it real]

Similar timing to when FSU offensive coordinator Mark Richt accepted the Georgia football coaching job before the BCS le game against OU in 2000. He was allowed to coach in the le game ... and his potent FSU offense was shut out. It was obviously a distraction. Those were college kids, but I think it had to be distracting to the coach, too. Let's hope Budenholzer nips any distractions in the bud.

[superbigtime]

Why go to Atlanta though??? The worst franchise in the eastern conference (historically).

No one cares about the NBA in Atlanta - they have the worst fan base bar none. I'd rather him have taken the Detroit job.

where would you rather move your family? exactly.

[SenorSpur]

Why do people keep mentioning Vinny Del Negro in this thread? He's almost as bad a coach as he was a shooting guard/point guard. I'd rather see the Spurs bring Cotton Fitzsimmons back than hire scrub-ass Del Negro.