ATLANTA - The Hawks are coming off their best season in Atlanta - and that's not all.
Guard Kyle Korver thinks it's about to get even better now that the team has new owners, a new front office and new uniforms.
With coach Mike Budenholzer the new president of basketball operations, Korver believes the Hawks have a good chance to move past the Eastern Conference finals next season.
''There's a ton of people who definitely get credit, but Bud really has kind of lifted this place in a lot of ways, so happy for him,'' said Korver, a 13-year NBA veteran. ''I think you get good people who work really hard. You get them together and you get somebody like Bud to lead them and you'll keep moving in the right direction.''
The Hawks had Korver, guard Jeff Teague, guard Kent Bazemore and forward Mike Muscala moonlighting as models for a new combination of uniforms and fan merchandise on Wednesday.
Budenholzer was not present, but the NBA coach of the year is expected to join the new ownership group, led by billionaire businessman Tony Ressler, at an introductory news conference Thursday.
With the NBA draft about to bring in new players and the $850 million sale complete, Hawks CEO Steve Koonin says the team is positioned to change its image on and off the court.
''New owners, new players, new look, new responsibility - that's why we're calling it the `next generation of the Atlanta Hawks week,' " Koonin said. ''It's a whole sea change, and I think there's nothing but sunny skies for the Atlanta Hawks.''
