Editing Atlanta Hawks (section)

===2013–2018: Mike Budenholzer era===
[[File:Coach bud looking other way.JPG|thumb|Mike Budenholzer coached the team to 60 wins in the 2014–15 season, a franchise record]]
On May 28, 2013, the Hawks hired [[San Antonio Spurs]] assistant coach [[Mike Budenholzer]] as the new head coach.

The Hawks entered the [[2013 NBA draft]] with four draft picks. They drafted point guards [[Dennis Schröder]] (17th pick) and [[Shane Larkin]] (18th pick). They also chose point guard [[Raulzinho Neto]] with the 47th pick and small forward [[James Ennis (basketball)|James Ennis]] with the 50th pick. However, the Hawks traded Larkin to the Dallas Mavericks for the draft rights of [[Mike Muscala]] and [[Lucas Nogueira]] (originally drafted by the [[Boston Celtics]]), as well as guard [[Jared Cunningham]]. They also traded Ennis's draft rights to the [[Miami Heat]] and Neto's to the Utah Jazz for a future second-round pick. The Hawks brought back [[Kyle Korver]] with a four-year, $24 million deal and signed power forward [[Paul Millsap]] to a two-year, $19 million deal.

On December 26, 2013, Horford tore his right pectoral muscle, and on December 30, the Hawks announced that he would undergo surgery the next day and would miss the rest of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/2013/news/12/30/hawks-horford-done.ap/index.html|title=Hawks' Horford to have season-ending surgery|date=December 31, 2013|work=NBA.com|access-date=June 30, 2015|archive-date=October 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026134859/http://www.nba.com/2013/news/12/30/hawks-horford-done.ap/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Hawks finished 38–44, their first losing season since 2008. However, due to the weakness of the Eastern Conference, they finished as the 8th seed in the playoffs, and just like 2008, the Hawks would not go down easy, as they took the top-seeded Pacers to 7 games in before a 92–80 loss in game 7.

On May 1, 2014, the Hawks unveiled a new secondary logo, which is a modernized version of the 1972–95 "Pac-Man" logo.<ref name="PacIsBack">{{cite web|last=Wilson|first=Jaryd|title=Hawks Reveal New Secondary Logo|url=http://hawksbasketblog.com/2014/05/01/hawks-reveal-new-secondary-logo/|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|date=May 1, 2014|access-date=May 28, 2015|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811045051/https://hawksbasketblog.com/2014/05/01/hawks-reveal-new-secondary-logo/ |archive-date=August 11, 2015}}</ref> On July 15, 2014, they acquired defensive specialist [[Thabo Sefolosha]] from the [[Oklahoma City Thunder]]. On September 7, 2014, [[Bruce Levenson]] announced he would sell his share of the team, after self-reporting an inappropriate email he sent in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McLaughlin|first1=Eliott C.|title=Atlanta Hawks owner Bruce Levenson to sell team after racist email|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/07/us/atlanta-hawks-owner-bruce-levenson-racist-email/index.html|access-date=September 8, 2014|work=CNN|date=September 7, 2014|archive-date=March 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331080910/https://www.cnn.com/2014/09/07/us/atlanta-hawks-owner-bruce-levenson-racist-email/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Some in the African American sports community have defended Levenson, namely [[Jason Whitlock]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Whitlock|first=Jason|title=Levenson is anything but racist|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/11493472|work=ESPN.com|date=September 9, 2014|access-date=October 2, 2014|archive-date=March 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329083649/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/11493472|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]],<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Abdul-Jabbar|first1=Kareem|title=Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Bruce Levenson Isn't a Racist; He's a Businessman|url=https://time.com/3296175/bruce-levenson-atlanta-hawks-racist-email-kareem-abdul-jabbar/|access-date=October 2, 2014|magazine=Time|date=September 8, 2014|archive-date=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328111055/http://time.com/3296175/bruce-levenson-atlanta-hawks-racist-email-kareem-abdul-jabbar/|url-status=live}}</ref> commenting that Levenson's email had no racist intent, but was motivated by valid business concerns.

On January 2, 2015, ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' reported that the remaining minority owners of Atlanta Hawks, LLC would join Levenson, effectively putting the entire franchise for sale.<ref name="Hawks 100% for sale">{{cite news|last1=Vivlamore|first1=Chris|title=Breaking News: 100 percent of Hawks up for sale (updated)|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/basketball/breaking-news-100-percent-hawks-for-sale-updated/B8SDEBCrtTQWAdtFezo2vL/|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|access-date=January 9, 2015|archive-date=August 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808113726/http://www.ajc.com/sports/basketball/breaking-news-100-percent-hawks-for-sale-updated/B8SDEBCrtTQWAdtFezo2vL/|url-status=live}}</ref> The sale of the team as well as the operating rights to Philips Arena was handled by [[Goldman Sachs]] and Inner Circle Sports LLC. The NBA has stated that the Hawks would remain in Atlanta as a condition of their sale. Additionally, Atlanta mayor [[Kasim Reed]] stated that the city might offer incentives for a prospective owner to keep the Hawks in Atlanta for another 30 years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hawks owners unanimously approve plan to sell team|url=http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/atlanta-hawks-sale-unanimously-approved-by-owners-010815|website=[[Fox Sports (United States)|Fox Sports]]|date=January 8, 2015|access-date=January 9, 2015|archive-date=March 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329191957/https://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/atlanta-hawks-sale-unanimously-approved-by-owners-010815|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 22, 2015, Atlanta Spirit reached a tentative agreement to sell the franchise to a group led by billionaire [[Tony Ressler]] (with [[Grant Hill]], [[Steven Price (businessman)|Steven Price]], [[Rick Schnall]], [[Sara Blakely]], [[Jesse Itzler]] and Ressler's wife [[Jami Gertz]] holding minority stakes) for $850 million; the sale was approved by the NBA Board of Governors on June 24, 2015.<ref name="HawksSaleApproved2015">{{cite press release|title=NBA unanimously approves sale of Atlanta Hawks|url=http://www.nba.com/2015/news/06/24/sale-of-hawks-unanimously-approved/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpts|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=June 24, 2015|access-date=June 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627155508/http://www.nba.com/2015/news/06/24/sale-of-hawks-unanimously-approved/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpts|archive-date=June 27, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Sale to Ressler">{{cite news|title=Hawks finalizing sale with billionaire Antony Ressler|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/basketball/hawks-finalizing-sale-with-billionaire-antony-ressler/jBTAsV9zq6JUuriGlDcb4J/|access-date=April 23, 2015|archive-date=May 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529193855/https://www.ajc.com/sports/basketball/hawks-finalizing-sale-with-billionaire-antony-ressler/jBTAsV9zq6JUuriGlDcb4J/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nba.com/hawks/group-led-tony-ressler-completes-purchase-atlanta-hawks/ NBA: "Group Led By Tony Ressler Completes Purchase of Atlanta Hawks"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702095543/http://www.nba.com/hawks/group-led-tony-ressler-completes-purchase-atlanta-hawks |date=July 2, 2017 }} June 25, 2015 | "''Other investors include seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill, who will serve as Vice Chair of the Board, Townsquare Media Chair and CEO Steven Price, Clayton Dubilier & Rice partner Rick Schnall, and Spanx founder Sara Blakely and Marquis Jet co-founder Jesse Itzler, who are married"''</ref>

On January 31, 2015, the Hawks became the first NBA team to go 17–0 in a calendar month by beating Portland.<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlanta Hawks on Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/ATLHawks/status/561718305619447808|work=Twitter|access-date=June 30, 2015|archive-date=May 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508224352/https://twitter.com/ATLHawks/status/561718305619447808|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2015 All-Star Game consisted of four Hawks All-Stars including Jeff Teague, Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver, and Al Horford. On March 9, 2015, Kyle Korver and DeMarre Carroll each scored 20 points to help the Hawks become the first NBA team to 50 wins in 2014–15, scoring a season high in routing the Sacramento Kings 130–105. The Hawks also set a franchise record by going 20-of-36 for three-pointers, breaking the mark of 19 set against the Dallas Mavericks on December 17, 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20150309/SACATL/gameinfo.html|title=Kings at Hawks|work=NBA.com|access-date=June 30, 2015|archive-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112081918/http://www.nba.com/games/20150309/SACATL/gameinfo.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 20, 2015, the Hawks clinched their first division title in over two decades and became the first team not based in Florida to win the NBA's [[Southeast Division (NBA)|Southeast Division]];<ref name="2015 SE division champs">{{cite news|last1=Vivlamore|first1=Chris|title=Hawks claim Southeast Division title|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/basketball/hawks-claim-southeast-division-title/bnZUgCpAqDXu7fIxmuGR5L/|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|access-date=March 21, 2015|archive-date=August 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808115910/http://www.ajc.com/sports/basketball/hawks-claim-southeast-division-title/bnZUgCpAqDXu7fIxmuGR5L/|url-status=live}}</ref> one week later, with a win over Miami as well as a Cleveland loss to Brooklyn, the Hawks clinched the top seed in the [[2015 NBA playoffs|Eastern Conference playoffs]].<ref name="Top Seed 2015">{{cite news|last1=Schultz|first1=Jeff|title=Hawks win and clinch East, then act like it's no big deal (which is good)|url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/jeff-schultz/hawks-win-and-clinch-east-then-act-like-big-deal-which-good/3vrA9X4uKrqcmmTHxrRVrN/|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|access-date=March 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328143716/http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/03/27/hawks-win-and-clinch-east-then-act-like-its-no-big-deal-which-is-good/|archive-date=March 28, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The team finished a franchise-best 60–22.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ATL/2015.html|title=Atlanta Hawks 2014–15 Season Summary|publisher=Basketball Reference.Com|access-date=August 15, 2015|archive-date=July 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729194952/https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ATL/2015.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Jeff Teague Hawks.jpg|thumb|Jeff Teague was an NBA All Star in 2015 along with three other Hawks players that year (Horford, Millsap,Korver)]]
In the Eastern Conference first round, the Hawks defeated the [[Brooklyn Nets]] in six games. The Hawks then advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals to face the Washington Wizards, also defeating them in six games. It was the first time they had advanced past the second round since 1967, their second-last year in St. Louis. The Hawks advanced to the [[NBA Conference Finals#Conference|Eastern Conference Finals]] for the first time in franchise history, when they lost in four games to the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]].

On June 22, 2016, the Hawks traded Jeff Teague to Indiana in a three-team deal, that would give Utah's 12th pick in the [[2016 NBA draft]] to the Hawks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jeff Teague traded to Pacers in 3-team deal|date=June 22, 2016|url=https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/6/22/12005890/jeff-teague-trade-pacers-hawks-jazz-george-hill|publisher=sbnation.com|access-date=June 22, 2016|archive-date=June 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624122041/http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/6/22/12005890/jeff-teague-trade-pacers-hawks-jazz-george-hill|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 8, 2016, Horford signed a four-year, $113 million contract with the [[Boston Celtics]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Snow|first=Taylor C.|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/summer-070816-celtics-welcome-al-horford-to-boston|title=Celtics Welcome Al Horford to Boston|work=NBA.com|date=July 8, 2016|access-date=July 8, 2016|archive-date=July 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160711185033/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/summer-070816-celtics-welcome-al-horford-to-boston|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/boston-celtics-sign-al-horford|title=Boston Celtics Sign Al Horford|work=NBA.com|date=July 8, 2016|access-date=July 8, 2016|archive-date=July 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709091928/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/boston-celtics-sign-al-horford/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Snow|first=Taylor C.|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/16712043|title=Al Horford, Celtics agree on deal; agent says 4 years, $113 million|work=ESPN.com|date=July 8, 2016|access-date=October 28, 2016|archive-date=March 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330215645/http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/16712043|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 12, 2016, [[Dwight Howard]] agreed to return home to Atlanta on a three-year, $70 million contract with the Hawks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/16684040|title=Dwight Howard, Hawks reach deal; Al Horford status in question|website=ESPN.com|publisher=ESPN|date=July 12, 2016|access-date=July 12, 2016|archive-date=September 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929152618/http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/16684040|url-status=live}}</ref> The Hawks finished the season with a 43–39 record, good enough for the fifth seed. They lost in the first round to the [[Washington Wizards]] in six games.

On June 20, 2017, Howard was traded, along with the 31st overall pick in the [[2017 NBA draft]], to the [[Charlotte Hornets]] in exchange for [[Marco Bellinelli]], [[Miles Plumlee]], and the 41st overall pick in the same draft. Two days later, the Hawks selected [[Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball|Wake Forest]] power forward [[John Collins (basketball)|John Collins]] with the 19th overall pick.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19704232|title=Hawks pick at No.19: John Collins, Wake Forest forward|date=June 22, 2017|website=ESPN.com|publisher=ESPN|access-date=June 23, 2017|archive-date=March 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329083647/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19704232|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 13, 2017, Paul Millsap left the Hawks by signing a multi-year deal with the Denver Nuggets.<ref>{{cite news|title=Denver Nuggets sign free agent Paul Millsap|url=http://www.nba.com/article/2017/07/13/denver-nuggets-sign-free-agent-paul-millsap|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=July 13, 2017|access-date=July 22, 2017|language=en|archive-date=July 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717122917/http://www.nba.com/article/2017/07/13/denver-nuggets-sign-free-agent-paul-millsap|url-status=live}}</ref>

The loss of Howard and Millsap proved insurmountable for the rebuilding Hawks as they finished with a 24–58 record in the [[2017–18 NBA season|2017–18 season]], last in the Eastern Conference, and missed the playoffs for the first time since the [[2006–07 NBA season|2006–07 season]]. On April 25, 2018, the Hawks and head coach Budenholzer had mutually decided to part ways.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hawks Part Ways With Head Coach Mike Budenholzer|url=http://www.nba.com/hawks/news/hawks-part-ways-head-coach-mike-budenholzer|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=April 25, 2018|access-date=April 25, 2018|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109040616/https://www.nba.com/hawks/news/hawks-part-ways-head-coach-mike-budenholzer|url-status=live}}</ref> Budenholzer later signed a deal to coach the [[Milwaukee Bucks]].