Atlanta Hawks Eye Danny Ferry as Senior Advisor Option

The Atlanta Hawks are looking to the past as they seek to fill their top basketball operations position, potentially bringing back former general manager Danny Ferry in a senior advisory role. This development was highlighted by Marc Stein from The Stein Line, indicating that Ferry’s experience could prove beneficial to the franchise’s future direction.

Having parted ways with former head of basketball operations Landry Fields after a disappointing season, the Hawks are in the midst of restructuring their leadership. The franchise has recently elevated assistant general manager Onsi Saleh to the full-time GM role, but the search for a seasoned advisor remains ongoing.

Sources informed HoopsWire that Ferry has already been interviewed for the senior advisory position, alongside other notable candidates such as Calvin Booth, the former GM of the Denver Nuggets, and Monte McNair, who previously served as GM for the Sacramento Kings. The Hawks are clearly casting a wide net in their pursuit of the right fit to help guide their basketball operations.

Ferry’s history with Atlanta dates back to 2012-2015 when he was at the helm of the front office. However, his tenure was marred by controversy after he stepped down following backlash from racially insensitive remarks made during a conference call. Despite that chapter, Ferry has continued to work in basketball, serving as an advisor and interim GM for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Interestingly, Ferry’s connection to the Hawks runs deeper than just professional ties; he is also a former teammate of Hawks head coach Quin Snyder from their days at Duke University in the late ’80s. This personal relationship could serve as a foundation for collaboration if Ferry rejoins the organization.

Other candidates linked to the Hawks’ search include Timberwolves president Tim Connelly and Magic senior advisor John Hammond, as well as G League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim and former Hawks player Travis Hansen. This array of candidates illustrates the Hawks’ ambition to revamp their basketball strategy and improve their competitive stance in the league.

In a surprising twist, there are whispers that Hawks owner Tony Ressler is contemplating an unconventional approach by potentially hiring a player agent to oversee basketball operations. This strategy could signal a significant shift in how the organization intends to operate moving forward, emphasizing innovative thinking in an evolving NBA landscape.

As the Hawks navigate this pivotal moment in their franchise history, the potential reintroduction of Danny Ferry into a senior advisory position could offer the blend of experience and fresh perspective that the team desperately needs. The coming months will be critical for Atlanta as they aim to establish a robust leadership team that can steer the franchise toward a more successful future.