ATL Hawks News: What’s Next

Atlanta Hawks president of basketball operations Travis Schlenk and head coach Lloyd Pierce spoke to the media via Zoom on Tuesday.

There was different topics addressed but the most popular question that has been lingering in most our minds is what’s next.

As previously reported, the Hawks was among the eight teams that will not be heading to Orlando when the season restarts in July and the 2020-21 NBA regular season will likely begin on Dec. 1, 2020. Currently the team is awaiting word from the NBA for a proposed off-season scrimmage and or workouts.

“They’ve talked to us on one of our GM calls that it might be a condensed schedule next year. More so than in the past.” said Schlenk.  “As you know, there’s been a big drive to avoid back-to-backs and certainly four in five nights, but we might find ourselves in a situation next year where it would be much more condensed.”

When asked coach Pierce if he had spoken to any the players and what was their moods he responded, “Yes, we still currently have our Sunday and Thursday meetings. Each guy is different so in terms of what their moods are a lot of them are eager to know what Travis just talked about, what our next step will be, as we all are, and it’s really about they want the opportunity to play. They are waiting to see what capabilities we will have. So we are all in a holding pattern and most of our discussions have been about that in regards to basketball. Just what our next steps will be.

Pierce also spoke about rookie Cam Reddish, “I am excited about growth and his confidence in year one.”

Later that day, Cam Reddish also spoke to the media via Zoom, and he responded to Coach Pierce praise, “I feel like I put in a ton of work with the system and with my teammates, obviously with the coaches as well. But just in general with the whole NBA thing (I’m ) getting a little comfortable so little by little I’m finding my way.

“I’m always focused on the big picture and it’s really about getting those guys to all be a we team and to play together and for us to grow in the same way these guys have done individually.” said Pierce