Hawks bring back assistants Drew, Bender Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Hawks signed assistant coaches
Larry Drew and Bob Bender to contracts on Tuesday.
Both men return to head coach Mike Woodson's staff, which put together a 37-45
record a year ago but pushed the NBA champion Boston Celtics to a deciding
Game 7 in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
Each man has spent the four previous seasons as assistants with Atlanta. Drew
had been an assistant with the Lakers, Pistons, Wizards and Nets since
retiring as a player in 1991. Bender, who was a head coach at the collegiate
level... More...
Forward Josh Smith left Philadelphia without signing an offer sheet, but he felt good about his experience. "[It's] definitely the City of Brotherly Love," Smith informs the Philadelphia Daily News. "I felt welcome as soon as I got here, people stopping me, telling me that they wanted me to really come. I think that it was first class how everything was prepared; it was very organized and I had a good time while I was out here." Smith is a restricted free agent, and the Hawks would have a week to match any offer he signs.
Josh Childress, a restricted free agent, is receiving "broad and enthusiastic" interest, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The 76ers are known to be one of the teams seeking out his services.