As the Atlanta Hawks surged to a franchise-record 60 wins and made a run to the Eastern Conference Finals, the year-long absence of general manager Danny Ferry for saying Luol Deng "had a little African in him" is almost forgotten. However, with the Hawks nearing a sale, that saga will finally reach a conclusion that involves Ferry leaving for good.
Danny Ferry, Hawks expected to officially part ways before sale to new owners
Atlanta’s GM has been on leave since making racially-charged comments last September.
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Ferry’s most likely scenario is resignation, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Atlanta’s new ownership group would like to avoid controversy surrounding Ferry’s situation, and the Hawks front office has proven this season that they can operate just fine without him.
By resigning, Ferry can save his dignity and the rest of the money on his contract. This is beneficial for both sides. For the Hawks, it avoids an ugly firing. For Ferry, it makes it easier for him to find a new job with another team in the near future.
At this point, the odds of Ferry returning are incredibly unlikely, according to the Constitution. Instead, head coach Mike Budenholzer and assistant general manager Wes Wilcox will lead the Hawks’ front office.
The sale of the Hawks to a group led by Tony Ressler and Grant Hill is on schedule to be completed by June 24, one day prior to the NBA Draft. Ferry's resignation would likely need to happen prior to that becoming official.
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