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Per a report from ESPN’s Chris Forsberg, the Atlanta Hawks has already interviewed Boston Celtics assistant Jay Larranaga for their open head coaching job:
Celtics assistant coach Jay Larranaga has also interviewed for the Atlanta Hawks vacancy, according to league sources. Larranaga met with the Knicks while team was in Milwaukee and made a strong impression with Charlotte, according to sources.
— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) May 3, 2018
Larranaga had not been previously connected with the Atlanta job but fits the “young and willing to grow with the team” criteria that has been pervasive throughout general manager Travis Schlenk’s coaching search. Larranaga will be 43 in June and is currently the lead assistant for Brad Stevens in Boston, where he’s helped to oversee a very quick rebuild under Stevens’ leadership. Per the report from Forsberg, Larranaga has met with a number of teams, including the Knicks and Hornets, so there is stiff competition for his services, should the Hawks choose to make an offer.
Larranaga has been connected with a number of college head coaching jobs during his time with the Celtics, including an opportunity that could have brought him to Atlanta to be the head coach of Georgia Tech, but has chosen to remain in the NBA, presumably to wait on a year like this one, in which multiple head coaching jobs are available across the league.