Hello and welcome to the Evening News.
As the playoffs continue, we’ll keep you updated every evening. What’s happening today?
Here’s the latest from around the league:
Hawks hire Budenholzer
The Atlanta Hawks have confirmed today that the team has hired Mike Budenholzer to be their new head coach. David Aldridge of NBA.com reported earlier that the Spurs had given Atlanta until June 6, the first day of the NBA Finals, to negotiate a contract with their assistant coach. 
Budenholzer was widely believed to be the favorite for the job. He had been with the Spurs for 19 years and had spent the last five as Gregg Popovich’s top assistant. Budenholzer and Atlanta GM Danny Ferry have strong rapport from when Ferry worked as an executive in San Antonio.
Budenholzer had been considered to be the eventual successor to Popovich in San Antonio.
He released a statement today saying, “I have been extremely fortunate to be a part of the San Antonio Spurs organization for the last 19 years. I knew it would have to be a tremendous situation for me to leave and clearly coming to Atlanta as the head coach of the Hawks is perfect for me. Ownership’s commitment to taking this organization to the next level and creating a unique and special culture, partnering with a general manager like Danny Ferry who I have great respect for, and building a roster that has terrific potential because of the existing core and the ensuing flexibility presents a rare and uniquely positive opportunity.”
While Larry Drew was still under contract by the Hawks, the coach and team were proceeding as if he would not be back. Danny Ferry had maintained that there was a small chance that Drew could be brought back on an extension. However, with the announcement of the Budenholzer hiring, Drew will now turn his attention to the Milwaukee Bucks’ coaching vacancy, where he is considered to be a finalist for the position.
Randolph and Hollins’ relationship has been strained at times
Marc Stein of ESPN reports that Lionel Hollins’ return to the Grizzlies is anything but a guarantee. While he has said that he wants to return, other teams such as the Clippers and Nets could presumably offer him more money and more influence in the team’s personnel decisions.
Hollins was visibly frustrated with Memphis’ new ownership group following the Rudy Gay trade. Sources are also saying that Hollins’ relationship with Zach Randolph was strained at times throughout the season. 
Randolph has two years and more than $34 million dollars left on his current deal. While he has been perhaps the Grizzlies’ most consistent star for several seasons, word is spreading that the team doesn’t consider him to be untouchable and may even look to shop him this summer.
Mike Conley told Ramona Shelburne of ESPN earlier in the postseason that he believed it was extremely important for the Grizzlies to retain its core for next season.
“Whenever I get a chance to talk to people in management, I try to stress that we’ve built this from the ground up and we’ve got a good thing going,” said Conley. “If there’s a way we can keep it together, try your best to do that. Obviously with Lionel and what he’s done, all the rumors with Zach … Zach is a part of this city, [free agent-to-be] Tony [Allen] is a part of this city, it just wouldn’t be the same if they weren’t here.”
When asked about Hollins, Conley was extremely supportive, “I know that he’s fought for me in every situation that he’s had to. I can’t even put enough words in the sentences to say how much it means to me. Now I’m trying to go to bat for him, try and keep him here.”
