The Milwaukee Bucks have been granted permission to interview several front office candidates as they look to fill their general manager vacancy.

John Hammond departed the Bucks last week to join the Orlando Magic with Justin Zanik acting as interim GM.

Milwaukee made calls on Tuesday to inquire about Indiana vice president of basketball operations Peter Dinwiddie, Denver assistant GM Arturas Karnisovas, Memphis Grizzlies VP of player personnel Ed Stefanski and Atlanta Hawks special adviser to ownership Wes Wilcox.

Stefanski and Wilcox both were general managers in the NBA. Stefanski was GM of the Philadelphia 76ers (2007-11) and Wilcox was with the Hawks (2015-17).

Dinwiddie and Karnisovas have emerged as two of the NBA’s most respected young front-office executives.

The Atlanta Hawks today announced the hiring of Travis Schlenk as General Manager and Head of Basketball Operations. He will start leading Hawks basketball operations on June 1.

Schlenk, a veteran of more than 16 years in the NBA, joins the Hawks after 12 seasons with the Golden State Warriors, including the last five as Assistant General Manager, where he assisted 2015 NBA Executive of the Year Bob Myers in the management of all day-to-day basketball operations activities. He was previously the Warriors’ Director of Player Personnel for two years after five seasons as an assistant coach and video scout.

During Schlenk’s time as part of Golden State’s basketball leadership, the Warriors hired 2016 NBA Coach of the Year Steve Kerr as head coach, drafted two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry, two-time All-NBA selection Klay Thompson, two-time All-Defensive First Team pick Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes; acquired 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala and Andrew Bogut via trade; and signed 2014 MVP Kevin Durant and Shaun Livingston.

“After meeting with Travis, our search committee and I knew that he was the right choice to become the new general manager and head of basketball operations for the Atlanta Hawks. In addition to his significant experience with two organizations that have built championship cultures, he is ready to lead our basketball operations at a critical time for making big decisions as we prepare for the 2017-2018 season and beyond. We conducted a very thorough search process and believe Travis shares our vision for the team and the ability to implement it as we continue working hard to reach our commitment to bring a championship to Atlanta,” said Principal Owner Tony Ressler. “We appreciate the willingness of Joe Lacob and Bob Myers of Golden State for allowing Travis and his family to join the Hawks.”

“I am humbled by the opportunity to join the Hawks and thankful to Tony Ressler and his ownership team for trusting me with this responsibility,” Schlenk said. “The passion of the ownership team was evident throughout the process, and the team’s high standard aligns with organizations I’ve been part of and plan to emulate in Atlanta. I am excited to get started and look forward to collaborating with the team to build a first-class, championship-level franchise with a goal of sustained success. I would also like to thank Joe Lacob, Bob Myers, Steve Kerr, Larry Riley and Jerry West for being great mentors, strong advocates and friends during my time with Golden State, and for helping me prepare to serve in this role.”

Travis Schlenk has emerged as the choice for the Atlanta Hawks' general manager position. The two sides have entered contract talks.

Schlenk is currently assistant GM of the Golden State Warriors.

While the Hawks have been denied permission to interview Neil Olshey and David Griffin, they have interviewed Chauncey Billups, Tommy Shepherd and others.

Chauncey Billups will interview with the Atlanta Hawks for their current general manager vacancy.

The interview will likely occur on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Billups is currently an analyst with ESPN.

Although he has no prior executive experience, Billups has long been a student of the game in understanding how to navigate within the collective bargaining agreement.

Mike Budenholzer was stripped of his responsibilities as president of basketball operations this offseason.

Paul Millsap has opted out of his $21.4 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks for the 17-18 season as expected.

As a free agent in 2015, Millsap and his agent, DeAngelo Simmons, structured a three-year, $60.2 million deal with a third-year player option.

Millsap initially joined the Hawks in 2013 from the Utah Jazz.

Millsap is expected to command a max or near max contract.

The Atlanta Hawks have received permission from the Golden State Warriors to interview Travis Schlenk for their general manager position.

Schlenk has been assistant general manager of the Warriors for the past five seasons.

Schlenk has been a GM candidate at various points in the past and is also being considered by the Orlando Magic.

The Atlanta Hawks spent several hours interviewing Tommy Sheppard for their general manager position this week.

Sheppard is a longtime executive of the Washington Wizards working under Ernie Grunfeld.

Sheppard was previously with the Denver Nuggets in the 1990s.

Tony Ressler and Grant Hill have been conducting meetings with candidates.

The Portland Trail Blazers denied a request from the Atlanta Hawks to interview Neil Olshey for their vacant general manager job.

Olshey became general manager of the Blazers in 2012.

The Hawks are searching for a new GM after Mike Budenholzer stepped down from the job.

Olshey was identified as a primary candidate for the job by the Hawks.

In order for the Blazers to let Olshey out of his contract, they would have to receive draft and/or financial compensation from the Hawks.

The Atlanta Hawks offered four first round picks to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Paul George at the trade deadline.

The Pacers also received trade interest in George from the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets.

In addition to their own picks, the Hawks own future first rounders from the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2018 and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2019.

The Hawks' front office has since undergone significant changes, with Mike Budenholzer stepping down as president of basketball operations. Atlanta is still searching for their ultimate decision maker.

With George only one year from free agency and believed to prefer to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, it is unlikely the Pacers will receive a package of that quality again if they revisit trade talks.

The Atlanta Hawks plan on discussing their general manager opportunity with Chauncey Billups and Brent Barry.

Billups and Barry are both currently in broadcasting but have interest in working on the team side in the future.

David Griffin, Joe Dumars, Gersson Rosas and Mark Hughes are also candidates.

The Hawks have received permission from the Rockets to interview Rosas, while New York has granted permission for Hughes to be interviewed.