5 potential general manager options for the Atlanta Hawks

Nov 30, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer reacts against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Hawks 109-107. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The reshaping of the front office for the Atlanta Hawks began a week after being eliminated in the opening round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs.

After days of speculation about his future with the organization, Hawks general manager Wes Wilcox resigned, but agreed to remain with the team as an advisor. In an unexpected twist, Mike Budenholzer announced he will step down as president of basketball operations.

By relinquishing control of basketball operations, Budenholzer will dedicate all of his time to his head coaching duties with the team.

The pair of moves enables Atlanta to hire a new general manager with an elevated level of control. Both Wilcox and Budenholzer will continue to have a say in personnel decisions, but principal team owner Tony Ressler stressed the general manager will oversee the entire front office.

Ressler intends to have a new general manager in place prior to the NBA Draft on June 22. The entire roster could look drastically different over the next few months, as Atlanta has the 19th, 31st and 60th picks in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Atlanta holds the draft rights to the Timberwolves' first round pick in 2018, along with its own first and second round selections.

The team must also determine how vital four-time All-Star Paul Millsap is to the organization. The 6-foot-8 forward can opt out of his contract this summer and command a maximum contract as an unrestricted free agent.

Millsap posted Atlanta's highest scoring (18.1 points per game) and minute averages (34 per game) while ranking second in rebounding (7.7 per game), assists (3.7 per game), steals (1.3 per game) and blocks (0.9 per game) this season.

If Millsap signs a maximum contract with the Hawks, he could sign a deal for $205 million over five years. The other 29 teams in the league could offer him a four-year, $158.4 million deal.

Either contact would be a significant pay raise from the $21.5 million he was slated to earn during the 2017-18 campaign.

Within a few hours of the resignations of Wilcox and Budenholzer, a few candidates for the opening were revealed.

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Let's examine five realistic options for the vacant Atlanta Hawks general manager vacancy.

Apr 12, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General overall view of a Spalding official NBA basketball game on the court during the game Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Dumars

The Atlanta Hawks are hoping for a quick turnaround, something Joe Dumars has already experienced.

Immediately following the announcement of his retirement as a player in 2000, Detroit appointed Dumars as the president of basketball operations. Four years later, the Pistons claimed an NBA title, even without a superstar on the roster.

Much of his success stemmed from his ability to identify talent in undervalued players, as he turned Richard Hamilton, Chauncey Billups and Ben Wallace, all castoffs from other organizations, into a championship core.

Dumars resigned from the position following the end of the 2014 season.

The Hall-of-Fame shooting guard has emerged as a potential general manager candidate for New Orleans, even though Dell Demps still holds the title, but could join the Hawks immediately and is a former teammate of minority owner Grant Hill.

Feb 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin talks with the media before the game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

David Griffin

As Cleveland marches towards a third consecutive NBA Finals appearance, its general manager is working on an expiring contract.

The Cavaliers and Griffin had negotiated a contract extension last summer, but were unable to agree to terms. While he operates in uncertainty, Griffin has the support of LeBron James, as he has become increasingly vocal about his desire for the general manager to remain with the organization.

If Cleveland fails to retain Griffin past this summer, the Atlanta Hawks could serve as a viable destination.

Much like Dumars, Griffin has ties to minority owner Grant Hill, as he was an executive in Phoenix during three of Hill's five seasons with the Suns.

The primary holdup in a deal between the Hawks and Griffin is negotiations can't begin until the Cavaliers' season ends, which could be as late as June 18, the latest possible date of the NBA Finals.

Jun 25, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks owner Grant Hill (left) speaks as Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer gestures to Hill during a press conference at Philips Arena. The Atlanta Hawks officially announced today that it was purchased by an ownership group led by Tony Ressler, which Hill is a part of. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Grant Hill

Instead of bringing in an outside candidate, the team could just assign the general manager position to Hill, a minority owner of the Atlanta Hawks.

Hill was among the group, headed by Ressler, that purchased the franchise for $850 million two years ago, after serving as the managing principal and founder of Penta Mezzanine Fund, a private equity mezzanine firm.