The Atlanta Hawks had some high expectations coming into the 2022-23 NBA season. They made a big move in the offseason, acquiring All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray from the San Antonio Spurs. It was a move that was applauded by many as Murray’s skill set would complement All-Star Trae Young.
The Hawks needed to find someone that could take some of the pressure off of Young as the sole ball-handler and playmaker. Murray is more than capable of doing that while providing elite defense alongside the defensively challenged Young.
Alas, things haven’t gone as well as the Hawks had hoped. Atlanta is currently 18-19 and in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. They have been unable to replicate the success that they found that resulted in them making a run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.
They have made some big changes already looking to get back to that level as President of Basketball Operations, Travis Schlenk, had his role changed as he is now in a senior advisory role. General manager Landry Fields is taking on a larger role in the front office and he will have his hands full.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Nate McMillan & Atlanta Hawks Updates
Not only is finding a trade partner for John Collins on his to-do list, but Fields also has to smooth things over with Young, whom some people believe could be the next young superstar to demand a trade from his team.
Some of those issues stem from his relationship with head coach Nate McMillan. The two had what they called a miscommunication that led to Young sitting out a game, but that was only the latest in what has been a season full of tension. It has gotten so bad that McMillan has considered resigning from his position according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
“In the midst of a disappointing campaign, Atlanta Hawks head coach Nate McMillan has strongly considered resigning from his position, league sources with knowledge of the situation who are not authorized to speak publicly on the matter tell The Athletic.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Nate McMillan & Atlanta Hawks Updates
McMillan’s job status came into question across the NBA after his exchange with Hawks All-NBA star Trae Young at a gameday shootaround. His job status has been considered safe, and the Hawks have wanted to finish out the season with McMillan on the sideline, sources said. But McMillan, 58, appears to be near the end of his tenure with the Hawks after the season — unless there’s a resignation before then.”
From the sounds of it, it is only a matter of when, not if, McMillan leaves his position as head coach of the team. He was able to get the team on track and find a spark in relief of Lloyd Pierce during the 2020-21 season, but whatever he was doing has seemingly worn off. The same issues that were popping up between Pierce and Young are now occurring again between McMillan and Young.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Nate McMillan & Atlanta Hawks Updates
McMillan certainly sounds like a lame-duck coach, as there isn’t anything outside of a surprising run to the NBA Finals that would enable him to keep his job beyond this season. A power struggle between the head coach and the star player is almost always going to end up with the head coach leaving the team.
