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

[jeebus]

In the Grizzlies series, I noticed Brett Brown was a lot more involved/active during games. He was the most animated of the assistant coaches and most involved in terms of talking to players when they went to the sidelines, etc. That tells me that Bud probably had agreed to the job at some point earlier in the playoffs and Pop probably wasn't overly please with the timing and has already made Brett Brown the new lead assistant.

[rjv]

Damn, this sucks for the Spurs. Bud was a great lead assistant. When he took over for Pop, it was seamless. He's also very good at "guessing" what play the other team is going to run -- going all the way back to when he called the exact play the Knicks were going to run in '99 on that last shot. Additionally, Bud was a great summer league coach. I really wanted Bud to take over for Pop one day.

On one hand, I'm happy for him to get a shot. He doesn't have your typical NBA head coach personality and he's not a great interviewer so it was going to take a unique situation (in this case, the Ferry connection) for Bud to get his shot elsewhere.

But on the other hand, I'm kinda pissed at Bud and Ferry. You're telling me they couldn't have done a wink-wink agreement to avoid this potential distraction? Sure, it's not going to be a major distraction but the Spurs are heading into the Finals, you don't do anything to F that up. So, yeah, that's lame on Bud and Ferry's part.






P.S.

In the Grizzlies series, I noticed Brett Brown was a lot more involved/active during games. He was the most animated of the assistant coaches and most involved in terms of talking to players when they went to the sidelines, etc. That tells me that Bud probably had agreed to the job at some point earlier in the playoffs and Pop probably wasn't overly please with the timing and has already made Brett Brown the new lead assistant.

the one reservation i have always had about bud is that, although he has the a en to lead the spurs system down the road, i'm not so sure he has the dynamic similar to coach pop (and granted, pop is one in a generation but i've often been concerned with whether or not bud would be too passive to lead a group of enormous egos).

[Chinook]

Why would I not believe Pop's own words?

To be fair, Bruno posted a Pop quote a little while back saying that he's kidding when he says he's leaving with Duncan. He said he'd leave when he felt the time was right.

EDIT: Here's the post from the Bud to Pistons thread"

It's a little old (December 2009) but that's what Pop told about his retirement:

http://www.nba.com/spurs/features/pop_mailbag_0912.html

Question: Hi was wondering if you plan on staying in the NBA after Tim Duncan retires? If so will you stay with the Spurs? Go Spurs Go!

PopLaughs) I’ve always made a joke about the fact that Tim’s contract and my contract have always coincided as far as length, and it’s served as a real good joke. In all honesty I have no idea how long I want to keep doing it, but Timmy’s situation won’t be the factor that will make me retire or continue to coach.

I guess Pop's decision will come down to his health, his family and the pleasure he still takes to coach. The pleasure factor will be of course impacted by Duncan's retirement and Pop might not enjoy coaching Spurs after it especially if they go in full rebuild mode.

I'm not saying that Pop won't retire with Duncan but I don't see that as an automatic move.

[SpurPadre]

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.

If I mentioned him, it's because I don't want him but fear with his ties to us, Pop would consider grooming him. Remember, Pop was the first one to criticize his firing by the Bulls and then Clips. Dude is always propping him up for some reason.

[baseline bum]

To be fair, Bruno posted a Pop quote a little while back saying that he's kidding when he says he's leaving with Duncan. He said he'd leave when he felt the time was right.

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.

[Chinook]

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.

I just edited my previous post with the quote.

[DrunkTXLabrat]

i think this bud signing means pop is blowing smoke about retiring with timmy.

[Clipper Nation]

He's an ok coach in terms of getting guys to play hard.

No he's not.... he loses the locker room every single year

[baseline bum]

I just edited my previous post with the quote.

Thanks. Makes losing Bud sting a whole lot less.

[phxspurfan]

And if you think that Pop will retire as the same time as Duncan, Bud leaving could also mean that Duncan won't retire this summer, even if Spurs win it all.

I definitely think if the Spurs win it all, Duncan will be back next year to try and get that elusive repeat le. And to one up Kobe and Shaq.

[Ocotillo]

I have no insider information but I am willing to bet my house and anything else of value Vinnie Del Negro will not get a sniff of an assistant coaching job here.

[tesseractive]

No he's not.... he loses the locker room every single year

So after watching him closely, would you say that really the only reason he's made the playoffs every year in both LA and Chicago was landing a roster both times that was so good that even he couldn't ruin it completely?

[capek]

Question: Hi was wondering if you plan on staying in the NBA after Tim Duncan retires? If so will you stay with the Spurs? Go Spurs Go!

PopLaughs) I’ve always made a joke about the fact that Tim’s contract and my contract have always coincided as far as length, and it’s served as a real good joke. In all honesty I have no idea how long I want to keep doing it, but Timmy’s situation won’t be the factor that will make me retire or continue to coach.

Exactly! Can't believe people can't tell when to take things seriously, and when there is no reason to. People are odd. Pop will make his decision based upon numerous factors, not in some cartoonish-ly simplistic way by retiring along with Duncan.

[Beaverfuzz]

congrats to Bud...always keep climbing the ladder!

[BackHome]

Maybe the Hawks give us one of their two number one draft picks?....

[Mark in Austin]

congrats to Bud. If Brown gets the promotion I wouldn't mind seeing another former player on the sidelines (NOT VDN)

[moisaenz]

I have no insider information but I am willing to bet my house and anything else of value Vinnie Del Negro will not get a sniff of an assistant coaching job here.

Isn't vinny's relationship with pop not the best?

[HI-FI]

People actually want VDN? Dude is garbage and a whiny on top of that....

i hope the Del Negro and Avery Johnson talk are bad jokes lost in translation.

[Mel_13]

congrats to Bud. If Brown gets the promotion I wouldn't mind seeing another former player on the sidelines (NOT VDN)

Anyone know what TJ Ford is up to these days?

[99 Problems]

I agree with some here that Brett Brown already seems to have got the nod. Might be wrong but just some obs from watching the bench and time outs.

[jon123spurs]

Should be bring back PJ?

[Libri]

Anyone know what TJ Ford is up to these days?

assistant coach on the Toros

[SouthernFried]

I used to play a lot of 2 on 2 basketball with Mike and another coach I can't remember the name of...lol

Good guy. Surprised it's taken this long. Tho, he still looks like a kid to me

[Clipper Nation]

So after watching him closely, would you say that really the only reason he's made the playoffs every year in both LA and Chicago was landing a roster both times that was so good that even he couldn't ruin it completely?

In Chicago, the East sucked enough for the Bulls to make it in with .500 records, while CP3 carried his ass in LA, tbh....

[Clipper Nation]

Isn't vinny's relationship with pop not the best?

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)....