Hawks Fire Landry Fields, Promote Once Saleh To GM; Set To Hire President Of Basketball Ops

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Atlanta Hawks have fired Landry Fields as general manager.

The Hawks will begin the search for a President of Basketball Operations and have hired Sportsology Group, a leading provider of strategic advisory and operational support in the sports industry, to direct the process.

Onsi Saleh has been promoted to general manager of the Atlanta Hawks and will oversee all day-to-day basketball operations for the team, effective immediately.

The Hawks finished the season with a 40-42 (.488) record and did not make the playoffs for a second consecutive season.

“Every offseason we evaluate how we operate and ways we can improve our organization. As we enter this pivotal offseason, we have several complex decisions ahead of us, and we are committed to providing the human and financial resources needed to ensure that we navigate these decisions with a high level of precision and foresight. Adding an accomplished, senior-level leader to provide strategic direction and structure as well as partnering with Onsi and our talented front office is a top priority,” Principal Owner Tony Ressler said.

“I would genuinely like to thank Landry for his leadership during his time with us. Landry made our franchise better and left contributions that have positioned us for growth. I am grateful for his dedication and wish him success in his next endeavor.”

Prior to arriving in Atlanta in May 2024, Saleh spent the previous three seasons with the Golden State Warriors, including their 2022 NBA Championship team, and ending his tenure as its vice president of basketball strategy & team counsel.

Before Golden State, Saleh spent five years with the San Antonio Spurs, finishing as the team’s director of strategy & process/chief of staff.

Via RealGM Staff Report

[dubbmotta]

Interesting..the only bad move I can think of was trading for Murray. But drafting JJ, trading for Dyson those were solid moves.

[ziggymon123]

LANDRY SUCKS ON AND OFF THE COURT

[puja21]

Interesting..the only bad move I can think of was trading for Murray. But drafting JJ, trading for Dyson those were solid moves.

IDK if I'd even blame Fields for that

Schlenk had joined as GM and "head of" basketball ops in May 2017.

5 years later, the Hawks promoted Schlenk's title to "President" of Basketball Ops Schlenk bumped up Fields from "assistant" to "GM" but it was still Travis Schlenk's show

The Murray trade, sending out Gallinari + 4 FRPs happened <1 week later.

And Schlenk "resigned" into an advisor role in Dec 2022, which is the first time the team acknowledged Fields was "overseeing day-to-day operations of the Hawks basketball ops team."

^this was 6+ months after the trade for Murray.

[ontnut]

Interesting..the only bad move I can think of was trading for Murray. But drafting JJ, trading for Dyson those were solid moves.

IDK if I'd even blame Fields for that

Schlenk had joined as GM and "head of" basketball ops in May 2017.

5 years later, the Hawks promoted Schlenk's title to "President" of Basketball Ops Schlenk bumped up Fields from "assistant" to "GM" but it was still Travis Schlenk's show

The Murray trade, sending out Gallinari + 4 FRPs happened <1 week later.

And Schlenk "resigned" into an advisor role in Dec 2022, which is the first time the team acknowledged Fields was "overseeing day-to-day operations of the Hawks basketball ops team."

^this was 6+ months after the trade for Murray.

I think most rational people see that Fields did a pretty solid job as GM so far. He wasn't given much of a leash to implement his vision before the rug pull.

I have no idea who this Salah guy is, and his resume doesn't scream "I'm ready to be a top GM in the league". So i dno what the Hawks throught process is here. He's Canadian though, so maybe Masai and Bobby can fleece him.

[D21]

Interesting..the only bad move I can think of was trading for Murray. But drafting JJ, trading for Dyson those were solid moves.

IDK if I'd even blame Fields for that

Schlenk had joined as GM and "head of" basketball ops in May 2017.

5 years later, the Hawks promoted Schlenk's title to "President" of Basketball Ops Schlenk bumped up Fields from "assistant" to "GM" but it was still Travis Schlenk's show

The Murray trade, sending out Gallinari + 4 FRPs happened <1 week later.

And Schlenk "resigned" into an advisor role in Dec 2022, which is the first time the team acknowledged Fields was "overseeing day-to-day operations of the Hawks basketball ops team."

^this was 6+ months after the trade for Murray.

No, it didn't happen like that, for the Murray trade, Schlenk was not agreeing with the other guys, he was not totally opposed but didn't want to make this trade for this price. He was overruled, which made this Murray trade the start of Schlenk having no power.
Even if it was not Fields alone overruling Schlenk, they didn't let him finish his vision (and they also vetoed trade he wanted to do before this one)

Interesting..the only bad move I can think of was trading for Murray. But drafting JJ, trading for Dyson those were solid moves.

JJ was picked by Schlenk in 2021, not by Fields. But Fields gave him his new contract, which is a good one if JJ continue to play/improve like he did this season before his injury

[puja21]

No, it didn't happen like that, for the Murray trade, Schlenk was not agreeing with the other guys, he was not totally opposed but didn't want to make this trade for this price. He was overruled, which made this Murray trade the start of Schlenk having no power.
Even if it was not Fields alone overruling Schlenk, they didn't let him finish his vision (and they also vetoed trade he wanted to do before this one

Interesting I don't follow Hawks beat that closely

Do you have any written sources about how that went down?

I was trying to find more about Schlenk's exit but unsuccessful

[puja21]

I have no idea who this Salah guy is, and his resume doesn't scream "I'm ready to be a top GM in the league". So i dno what the Hawks throught process is here. He's Canadian though, so maybe Masai and Bobby can fleece him.

Maybe they saw he was w/ the Spurs since Covid and thought --

"this guy was director of strategy for the FO that fleeced us into taking Murray, gotta be doing something right over there"

[DoItALL9]

Interesting..the only bad move I can think of was trading for Murray. But drafting JJ, trading for Dyson those were solid moves.

IDK if I'd even blame Fields for that

Schlenk had joined as GM and "head of" basketball ops in May 2017.

5 years later, the Hawks promoted Schlenk's title to "President" of Basketball Ops Schlenk bumped up Fields from "assistant" to "GM" but it was still Travis Schlenk's show

The Murray trade, sending out Gallinari + 4 FRPs happened <1 week later.

And Schlenk "resigned" into an advisor role in Dec 2022, which is the first time the team acknowledged Fields was "overseeing day-to-day operations of the Hawks basketball ops team."

^this was 6+ months after the trade for Murray.

No, it didn't happen like that, for the Murray trade, Schlenk was not agreeing with the other guys, he was not totally opposed but didn't want to make this trade for this price. He was overruled, which made this Murray trade the start of Schlenk having no power.
Even if it was not Fields alone overruling Schlenk, they didn't let him finish his vision (and they also vetoed trade he wanted to do before this one)

Interesting..the only bad move I can think of was trading for Murray. But drafting JJ, trading for Dyson those were solid moves.

JJ was picked by Schlenk in 2021, not by Fields. But Fields gave him his new contract, which is a good one if JJ continue to play/improve like he did this season before his injury

What was the other Schlenk trade that was vetoed?