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Wojnarowski: Hawks Interview Former Blazers Coach Nate McMillan

The Atlanta Hawks reportedly interviewed former Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan on Wednesday as they weigh the future of current coach Larry Drew.

Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that former Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan interviewed with the Atlanta Hawks for their coaching position on Wednesday, even though this year's coach, Larry Drew, hasn't officially been fired yet.

Nate McMillan interviewed for the Atlanta Hawks' coaching job on Wednesday, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Atlanta general manager Danny Ferry is going through the unorthodox process of conducting a coaching search while his current coach, Larry Drew, remains under contract until June 30. Drew is highly unlikely to be retained as coach, but Ferry has reserved the remote option of revisiting contract extension talks with Drew should the Hawks fail to attract a coach Ferry believes is a better fit for the franchise.

McMillan also reportedly interviewed with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Detroit Pistons in recent weeks.

The Blazers fired McMillan in March 2012, replacing him with interim coach Kaleb Canales before hiring current coach Terry Stotts in August 2012. McMillan served as an assistant coach for the USA Basketball team that won a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics but hasn't coached in the NBA since.

Last summer, McMillan interviewed for the Charlotte Bobcats' job that eventually went to Mike Dunlap, who has since been fired. McMillan interviewed with the Orlando Magic and was reportedly a "top choice" but Jacque Vaughn took over for the fired Stan Van Gundy instead. In November, McMillan was linked to a possible assistant coach's job with the Los Angeles Lakers under Mike D'Antoni, following Mike Brown's dismissal, but that did not materialize. He was linked as a possible candidate to replace the fired Avery Johnson with the Brooklyn Nets, but interim coach P.J. Carlesimo has coached out this season.

McMillan holds a career coaching record of 478-452 (.514) over 12 seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics and the Blazers. McMillan posted a 266-269 (.497) record in seven seasons with the Blazers. Portland advanced to the playoffs in 2009, 2010 and 2011 but was eliminated in the first round in all three seasons.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter