Hawks' Head Coach Mike Woodson believes that he deserves to return to the bench with the team next season, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"He's going to have to take a moment to sit back and talk with individuals and get a feel for who is who and start making some decisions," Woodson said of new General Manager Rick Sund.

Woodson's contract expires on June 30.

"That's how it works, man. It's the first time I've been in a position like this as a head coach. But I'll sit down with him again next week, and we'll just start building a relationship," Woodson added.

"Because at the end of the day, he and I have to be on the same page, along with ownership, so we can continue what we started."

The Atlanta Hawks today named Rick Sund as the team?s General Manager, according to Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon.  Sund has more than 30 years of NBA experience, including stints with the Seattle Sonics, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks.

?Rick has an enormous amount of experience, and an outstanding reputation around the league,? Gearon said.  ?During this process, as we spoke with basketball people that we respect around the NBA, everyone had glowing things to say about Rick and his work.  Our objective was to add an individual who would help us take the momentum we gained last season, and move to the next level.  We feel we?ve done that, and we?re thrilled to add someone of Rick?s caliber to our franchise.?

?I?m very excited and impressed with what the Hawks have currently developed,? said Sund, from the Orlando NBA Pre-Draft Camp, ?and I look forward to continuing that process.  They captivated the attention of fans locally and nationally with their play during the playoffs, and I too, was impressed with the effort they displayed throughout that series (vs. Boston).

?We have a great nucleus of players, and while we have some work ahead of us, there?s tremendous potential and continued growth with the guys on this roster.  I look forward to getting more familiar with the coaching staff and players as we look to build on the success this franchise has enjoyed this postseason.?

Formerly the General Manager of the Seattle Sonics from 2001-07, Sund and the Sonics were the inaugural champions of the Northwest Division in 2004-05, and the team reached the postseason twice during his tenure.

Prior to that, he served in several different roles with the Dallas Mavericks from 1979-94, finishing up as Vice President of Basketball Operations.  At the start of his tenure, he helped the expansion Mavericks develop their inaugural season roster as the Director of Player Personnel.  Selected by then-GM Norm Sonju, Sund ? at the age of 28 ? became the youngest person in league history to hold that position.

One of the NBA?s most-respected front office executives, Sund presided over a Mavericks team that won a franchise-record 55 games and took home the Midwest Division title in 1986-87.  Dallas matched or improved their record in each of the franchise?s first eight seasons, reaching the playoffs on six occasions and making it to the Western Conference Finals in 1988.

In 1994, he spent one season as a consultant for the Sonics during Wally Walker?s first season as GM, managing the Sonics? college scouting program and assisted Walker with personnel decisions.

Sund joined the Pistons as Vice President of Player Personnel in the summer of 1995, assuming the title of Executive VP and General Manager of Basketball Operations a year later.  The Pistons, winners of 100 games in his first two seasons, participated in the playoffs four times during his Detroit years, where he spent six seasons (1995-2001).  He assisted in developing the Pistons in the areas of roster and player development, trades, contract negotiations, player drafts, free-agent acquisitions and other team operations.

Sund began his career in Milwaukee, spending five years with the Bucks after graduating with a master?s degree in sports administration from Ohio University in 1974.

He was a two-sport athlete at Northwestern University, where he was twice named academic All-Big Ten on the basketball squad (he was a 6-4 guard for the Wildcats), while also seeing action as a tight end and wide receiver on the football team.  He holds a bachelor?s degree in political science from Northwestern.

Sund is currently in Orlando serving as one of the co-chairman of the NBA?s Pre-Draft camp.  He is also serves on the board of the directors for the Special Olympics for the state of Washington, and the advisory board of the University of Oregon?s business school?s Warsaw Sports Marketing and Management Division.

Born on June 4, 1951, Richard Walker Sund is a native of Elgin, IL, and is a member of the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame.  He and his wife Lea are the parents of two children, daughter Hali and son Patrick.

The Atlanta Hawks Wednesday named Rick Sund as the team?s general manager, according to Hawks' co-owner Michael Gearon.  

Sund has more than 30 years of NBA experience, including stints with the Seattle Sonics, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, and Milwaukee Bucks.

?Rick has an enormous amount of experience and an outstanding reputation around the league,? Gearon said.

?During this process, as we spoke with basketball people that we respect around the NBA; everyone had glowing things to say about Rick and his work.  Our objective was to add an individual who would help us take the momentum we gained last season and move to the next level.  We feel we?ve done that, and we?re thrilled to add someone of Rick?s caliber to our franchise.?

?I?m very excited and impressed with what the Hawks have currently developed,? said Sund from the Orlando NBA Pre-Draft Camp, ?and I look forward to continuing that process.  They captivated the attention of fans locally and nationally with their play during the playoffs, and I too, was impressed with the effort they displayed throughout that series (vs. Boston)."

?We have a great nucleus of players, and while we have some work ahead of us, there?s tremendous potential and continued growth with the guys on this roster.  I look forward to getting more familiar with the coaching staff and players as we look to build on the success this franchise has enjoyed this postseason.?

Formerly the general manager of the Seattle Sonics from 2001-07, Sund and the Sonics were the inaugural champions of the Northwest Division in 2004-05, and the team reached the postseason twice during his tenure.

Cavaliers executive Chris Grant has rejected an offer from the Atlanta Hawks to become the team's new GM, the Marc Stein of ESPN.com is reporting.

NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com that Grant spent the weekend mulling Atlanta's proposal before ultimately deciding to stay in his role with the Cavaliers as a top aide to front-office chief Danny Ferry.

Sources said contract negotiations between Grant and the Hawks began after Spurs executive Dennis Lindsey's withdrawal and intensified to the point that Atlanta had ceased speaking to other candidates, expecting Grant to accept.

Spurs' Assistant GM Dennis Lindsey has withdrawn his name from consideration for the Hawks' post, saying he is going to stick with San Antonio, the San Antonio Express-News is reporting.

Lindsey?s name had been on a short list of candidates to replace Hawks' GM Billy Knight, who resigned May 7 ? days after the Hawks were eliminated by the Celtics in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series.

?I decided to withdraw my name from the interview process,? Lindsey said before the Spurs played the Hornets in Game 7. ?It came down to family considerations and the fact I?m just very happy with the Spurs and in San Antonio.?

Kings' forward Ron Artest indicated late Thursday night he's not planning to leave Sacramento, Sam Amick of The Sacramento Bee is reporting.

Artest, who has until June 30 to exercise an early termination option in his contract for the 2008-09 season, said he and his agent are not plotting to explore free agency.

The contract of Kings' basketball operations president Geoff Petrie has one season left with a team option for the following season.  Owner Joe Maloof told The Bee on Friday that he wants to retain Petrie's services.

"We're picking that [option] up," Maloof said. "Put that in the paper. Whatever his option is, we're going to pick it up. We think he's the best."

Petrie had been approached by the Atlanta Hawks about filling their general manager vacancy.

Portland Trail Blazers' personnel scout John Gabriel, San Antonio Spurs' assistant general manager Dennis Lindsey, Washington Wizards' vice president of basketball administration Tommy Sheppard, and Boston Celtics' assistant general manager Dave Wohl make up the list of four potential candidates for the Hawks' GM role, Marc Stein from ESPN.com is reporting.

Former Sixers' GM Billy King and Chris Grant, the assistant GM in Cleveland, would only be considered if the team expands their list.

Outgoing GM Billy Knight is believed to be a candidate in New York to work alongside new Knicks' President Donnie Walsh.

Before their Game 7 matchup against the Celtics, the Hawks stayed at the Liberty Hotel on May 3rd in Cambridge.

A league source said Brandon Lyons, who operates the Alibi Lounge in the hotel, instructed his bar staff to give anyone affiliated with the Hawks a double shot in any alcoholic beverage they ordered.

Dennis Lindsey, assistant general manager of the San Antonio Spurs, is reportedly a candidate for the vacancy with the Atlanta Hawks following the resignation of Billy Knight.

The Spurs have yet to receive a request for permission to speak with Lindsey.

The Atlanta Hawks could fill their head coaching vacancy with Avery Johnson or Mike D'Antoni.

Johnson has $11 million owed to him from Dallas, and that may cause him to be patient to wait for the right opportunity to re-emerge.