Danny Ferry’s fingerprint can be found all over the 60 win Atlanta Hawks, who clinched their first division title in over two decades.
After a season long suspension for racially motivated comments about Luol Deng, the AJC is reporting that Ferry is likely finished in Atlanta, with just details of his removal remaining.
There has been a belief within the Hawks’ organization for several months that the team’s general manager is not going to be brought back. The thinking is that coach Mike Budenholzer (expected to get a new contract with a raise and more autonomy) and assistant general manager Wes Wilcox likely will be at the top of the basketball operations department, at least for the next year.
At this point, there are three scenarios for Ferry, but only two plausible ones:
• Ferry resigns: This is the favorite. It could happen any day. The Hawks likely would agree to pay off the balance of Ferry’s contract and it would allow him to make an exit statement along the lines of, “I’m proud of the work I did here but I feel it’s the best for all parties to move on.”
• Ferry is fired: It doesn’t serve anybody to have this thing end ugly, least of all Ferry, who wants to get another job (and will). But he has been resistant to leaving, loves living in Atlanta and it may come to this.
• Ferry is kept: Think “PowerBall” odds.
Ferry received a deservedly harsh penalty, while showing contrition, but statements like the one he made in regards to Deng can’t be tolerated.
The Hawks new ownership group will likely want a fresh start as well.