Atlanta Hawks reorganizaton: Mike Budenholzer, Wes Wilcox resign from positions

Mike Budenholzer resigned as the Atlanta Hawks' president of basketball operations on Friday but will remain as coach.

In addition, Wes Wilcox resigned from his position as general manager and will become a special advisor to ownership as the Hawks announced a new management structure.

Budenholzer will continue to serve as head coach and will remain involved in basketball personnel decisions.

The team said it will use an executive search firm to help identify a new general manager to run basketball operations.

The changes follow a disappointing 2016-17 season when the Hawks dipped to 43-39 and lost to the Washington Wizards in the opening round of the NBA playoffs.

"As we have said from the beginning, we are committed to building the Atlanta Hawks into a championship-caliber team, and after the end of our season, it was clear to all of us that our basketball operations leadership needed this reorganization," Hawks principal owner Tony Ressler said in a statement. "With Bud moving his focus exclusively to his position as head coach, we are freeing him up to do what he does best as one of the most respected coaches in the NBA. As owners, we value Wes' dedication, intellect and capabilities, however, we believe that our leadership would be best served by recruiting a new general manager to bring our team to the level of play that we expect."

Budenholzer, the 2014-15 NBA Coach of the Year, has compiled a 189-139 (.576) record in four seasons as head coach and led the Hawks to their winningest season in franchise history in 2014-15, recording 60 wins before reaching the Eastern Conference Finals during the postseason. The Hawks have reached the playoffs in each of his four seasons and in 10 consecutive seasons overall, the second-longest streak in the NBA.

"For our franchise, I believe that this was a necessary and positive set of changes. I am fully committed to the Hawks organization and look forward to helping with the search process and eventually working with the incoming GM," Budenholzer said. "Together with ownership, the incoming GM and front office staff, and our coaching staff, we will continue to work toward building a team that can achieve a high level of sustainable success."

Wilcox, hired in June 2012 as assistant general manager, was promoted to GM in June 2015.

"What makes our organization strong is that everyone is working together for the good of the Hawks. That was my thinking when Bud and I met with ownership after the season and recommended this new structure," Wilcox said. "I'm grateful for my time as general manager and consider it a privilege to be asked by Tony to continue on as a special advisor. I look forward to working closely with ownership to bring a championship to Atlanta."

One of the Hawks' offseason challenges will be attempting to retain four-time All-Star power forward Paul Millsap, who said he will probably opt out of his contract for next season (worth $21.4 million) and become an unrestricted free agent.