Larry Drew hired as new Milwaukee Bucks head coach

Larry Drew will be the next head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, general manager John Hammond announced Friday. From the team’s official press release:

Yahoo!‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, who was the first to report the deal, reports that Drew signed a three-year contract that includes a team option for a fourth.

Wojnarowski also reports Bucks general manager John Hammond has become “increasingly impressed” with the idea of selecting Clifford as their next head coach.

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Six NBA coaches have been fired, five openings have not yet been filled, and more are likely to come. Van Gundy’s name has been on several short-lists, with the Hawks and the Bucks both rumored to have the 53-year-old in their sights. But Van Gundy confirms that he won’t be taking those jobs, or any others, per David Baumann of Sports Talk Florida.

”As you get down the road more and the longer you are out, the harder it is to get back in and that was certainly a difficult part of the decision process for me because it’s certainly something that I miss and don’t want to close the door on for the rest of my life, but, it is not right now anyway, in the best interest of my family, so it won’t be next year.“The older of the two Van Gundy brothers, Stan says that although several teams have contacted him, he has not interviewed with any and won’t this offseason. However, he is interested in returning to coaching, just not right now.

Both teams are spreading their coaching search wide as they prepare to transition once free agency officially begins on July 1.

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Drew’s contract is up on June 30 and he’s open to returning to the team, but he could draw interest elsewhere. There are currently six head coaching vacancies, with several more jobs possibly opening up in the near future.

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Drew is in the final year of his contract and Marc. J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports has reported that there is a “slim chance” Drew and his staff will be retained. Ferry noted in his end-of-season press conference that he planned to let postseason emotions fade before making a decision on Drew. The lingering situation adds yet another layer to a complicated offseason for the franchise.

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Since the two diminutive guards tend to dominate the ball, that can lead to accusations of selfishness when they take difficult shots. Their tendency to force the action has been an issue for both their entire career.

It’s unclear whether ill will still exists between Ellis and Sanders, two fiery players known to play with their hearts on their sleeves, but it’s an indication of the tricky dynamic facing the Bucks’ front office as they look for a new coach and try to keep the franchise moving in the right direction.

With the respective contracts of Drew and his assistants expiring July 1, Hawks general manager Danny Ferry is expected to make a final decision on the staff this week. Given that the coaches have reportedly begun seeking out new job opportunities already, the writing is likely on the wall following another good-not-great season.

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“Some of it was, it had to do with our roster,” Hammond told the media at a press conference following the announcement. “The number of free agents that we had, that could be difficult. I personally feel that in the realm of what Jim had to do with his job, I think he did it with the best of his ability. It was just a decision we had to make.”

“I don’t think we’re starting from scratch at all,” Hammond said. “If you look at our roster, this thing is surely not broke right now, especially up front. I think it’s intriguing. I think people are going to look at our roster and see opportunity.”

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Having to settle for the eighth seed in the East, the Bucks got pummeled in the first round of the playoffs by the Miami Heat.

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