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Ime Udoka has interest from struggling east team after Boston Celtics dismissal

By Andrew Hughes

Following his dismissal from the Boston Celtics with the Joe Mazzulla contract extension, Ime Udoka could be back coaching quickly (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
Following his dismissal from the Boston Celtics with the Joe Mazzulla contract extension, Ime Udoka could be back coaching quickly (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images) /
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Former Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka is already drawing interest from other teams following the C’s organizational decision to promote interim head coach Joe Mazzulla to permanent HC and hand him a multi-year extension — with the Hawks, fresh off of firing Nate McMillan, hot on his trail according to a tweet from Marc Stein on February 22.

Udoka was suspended by the team a week before training camp in September due to an inappropriate intimate affair with a female member of the organization, who was allegedly a Danny Ainge hire. Speculation has run rampant about Udoka also having a physical relationship with the wife of one of the minority owners, though those rumors spread by Joe Budden have yet to be confirmed.

While the Celtics didn’t see a return for Udoka and thus rewarded Mazzulla accordingly, the Eastern Conference champion coach is reportedly drawing interest from a current playoff team two years removed from a conference finals appearance.

Former Boston Celtics HC Ime Udoka could help the Hawks reach next level

Before the season, the Hawks seemed like a potential riser in the Eastern Conference given the acquisition of Dejounte Murray. Unfortunately, a major step back from John Collins and the fall of the team’s second unit with the losses of former starter Kevin Huerter, Lou Williams, and Delon Wright have caused Atlanta to become a Play-in candidate with no guarantee to get back to the postseason.

This core has to work. It cost the Hawks too much to land Murray and not at least get back to the second round of the postseason. Udoka is the most proven asset on the market and possibly the only man who can get the team right on such short notice.

Trae Young may have plenty of pull as the franchise pillar, but Udoka has proven to be able to get egos in check and have his team playing together.

If the former Boston Celtics coach can have them defending at a high level like he had the only team he’s ever coached, the 2021-22 Cs, Atlanta could right the ship and be relevant again in short order. They have the talent to be in the top half of the conference — and Udoka has the coaching pedigree to get them there.

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