Ime Udoka, Stephen Silas headline list of reported head coaching candidates for Atlanta Hawks

With Mike Budenholzer no longer in place as the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, focus shifts to his replacement and, almost immediately after word broke of the mutual parting of ways, a few names came to the surface. Marc J. Spears of ESPN’s The Undefeated reported that Hornets assistant coach Stephen Silas has emerged as a candidate and, moments later, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN shed light on additional names to monitor.

Silas, who is the son of former NBA head coach Paul Silas, worked with Hawks GM Travis Schlenk in Golden State as an assistant coach, while both Tibbetts and Vanderpool are seen as young, up-and-coming assistants with the Blazers. Udoka is perhaps the most recognizable name as a result of his playing career, and he has been mentioned as a candidate for the vacancy with the Charlotte Hornets. Lastly, Borrego once served as the interim head coach in Orlando and the 41-year-old is seen in high regard in coaching circles.

More names will almost certainly come to light in the coming days but the early buzz centers on young assistant coaches that would theoretically grow with a rebuilding core (likely at a reduced price) for the future. Stay tuned as more information becomes available in the Hawks coaching search.