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Milwaukee Bucks reportedly reach agreement with Mike Budenholzer to be head coach

By Adam McGee

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 7: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks yells to his players during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on April 7, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 7: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks yells to his players during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on April 7, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly reached an agreement with former Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer to become the franchise’s new head coach.

It seems as if the search has come to an end. Mike Budenholzer will reportedly become the new head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, and the 16th in franchise history.

Budenholzer had emerged as the clear frontrunner in recent days, and was reported as having taken a breakfast meeting with Bucks stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton on Wednesday morning, following a Tuesday meeting with ownership in New York.

News of an agreement between the Bucks and Budenholzer was first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

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Budenholzer was most recently the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, with his five-year tenure with the team coming to an end at the close of the season.

The 48-year-old’s time in Atlanta was widely considered to be successful, but as ownership looked to initiate a full rebuild, Budenholzer was eager to move on for another opportunity with a greater readiness to be competitive.

The Hawks were Conference Finalists under Budenholzer in 2015, following a 60-win regular season that earned him Coach of the Year honors.

Prior to taking the leap into head coaching with Atlanta, Budenholzer had been a long-time member of Gregg Popovoch’s staff in San Antonio. Budenholzer won four championships as an assistant with the Spurs.

Having built teams separately centered around success on both ends of the court, Budenholzer is an intriguing fit for the Bucks. The best of Budenholzer’s teams tended to be more defensive minded, yet an emphasis on ball movement and three-point shooting stand as some of the constants of his various teams over the years.

According to a report from Wojnarowski, the inclusion of two of the team’s key players, particularly Antetokounmpo was important for the Bucks before finalizing any decision.

"“The Bucks wanted to have the two players — especially Antetokounmpo, the franchise star – to have a sense of the prospective next Bucks coach and encouraged the players to sit-down with Milwaukee’s preferred candidate before the organization extended a formal offer, league sources said.It is a relatively unprecedented move in a head coaching search, but it clearly reflects the Bucks determination to make Antetokounmpo and Middleton feel a part of the process.”"

Wojnarowski’s report also indicated a finalized contract is expected to be completed “soon”.

The hiring of a head coach was undoubtedly the biggest decision of the summer for the Bucks, but now the hard work must begin for Budenholzer and co.

Next: Milwaukee Bucks: Coaching overhaul must extend beyond top job

The Bucks have a draft to prepare for, big free agency decisions to come, and an assistant coaching staff to fill. Then, the small matter of a new era of Bucks basketball will become top priority.

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