Hawks 2025 Offseason Thread

[Jamaaliver]

I've heard speculation that Saleh was a high dollar exec hired specifically to be the adult in the room for negotiations...and ultimately take the role of GM when the time was right.

The adult in the room? Landry is 35, Saleh 37 -

I'm guessing Saleh has more years of experience?

I did not realize the age difference was that small. But yeah, I was thinking more in terms of corporate experience.

Landry spent his 20s doing sports and then as a low level scout.

Saleh spent his years studying/practicing law and working in high functioning front offices.



I still find it unbelievable that we named a 31 year old with no executive experience as our Assistant GM in the first place.
(Man I hate Nick Ressler.)

Spoiler:

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[Rebound Mound]

I have known people below 30 being really smart and knowing how to negotiate, create plans, organize and have a clear vision of a business, even in tough situations them varying from uncomfortable physical situations or disadvantageous positions and people in his 50s being stupid with all the advantages.

For what I infer, Saleh has a broader knowledge of financial nuances and conditions and is more used to dealing with that, while Fields probably holds a higher level of experience.

[CP War Hawks]

So essentially Saleh is a master class nba fantasy expert. Good at assessing fair values to any player while the PBO would handle negotiating with agents and other GMs mainly. Looking forward to who they decide for that position.

[Jamaaliver]

I want Klay Thompson...

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[Jamaaliver]

So essentially Saleh is a master class nba fantasy expert. Good at assessing fair values to any player while the PBO would handle negotiating with agents and other GMs mainly. Looking forward to who they decide for that position.

You have it backwards.

PBO determines the general direction.

Saleh as GM works out the minor details to include negotiations.

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[Jamaaliver]

Hawks are tops in shot quality but middle of the packing in shooting efficiency.

Get me more shooters!!!!

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[CP War Hawks]

So essentially Saleh is a master class nba fantasy expert. Good at assessing fair values to any player while the PBO would handle negotiating with agents and other GMs mainly. Looking forward to who they decide for that position.

You have it backwards.

PBO determines the general direction.

Saleh as GM works out the minor details to include negotiations.

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No, if Hawks get Myers, Connelly, or Brand they would be handling alot of the negotiations with free agents and GMs for sure.

[Jamaaliver]

PBO determines the general direction.

Saleh as GM works out the minor details to include negotiations.

No, if Hawks get Myers, Connelly, or Brand they would be handling alot of the negotiations with free agents and GMs for sure.

This is a valid point.

Myers/Connelly would be the main point of contact for starting negotiations.

I do believe the lawyer, Saleh, would be the primary for navigating the minor details of the contracts, draft compensation, salary cap implications.
But Myers/Connelly would have final say to approve the deal.


NOTE: I don't believe Elton Brand would be qualified to negotiate much of anything.

[Jamaaliver]

Hawks have 5 brutal offseason questions no one wants to answer

It's a big offseason for the Atlanta Hawks, including five major questions



1. Will Trae Young sign an extension?

Spoiler:

Even before Atlanta's early exit from the 2024-25 season, the reality that Trae Young is extension-eligible was looming. On one hand, Young is the most high-profile player to wear a Hawks jersey since Dominique Wilkins more than three decades ago, and he also just led the NBA in assists by a comfortable margin, clearly buying into Quin Snyder's direction and carrying an offense with (very) limited personnel throughout the season. On the other, Young can sign for more than $200 million over four seasons and, given his age and size, there could be concerns about the back half of that kind of contractual commitment.

Perhaps there is a middle ground in which Young takes less than his maximum (a la Jalen Brunson) to make things easier for the Hawks from a team-building standpoint. However, if he doesn't, the trade whispers will likely get louder, as Young has only one more guaranteed season on his contract. This could be a 1,500-word topic on its own, but one thing to consider that, while Atlanta's young core of Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, Dyson Daniels, and Onyeka Okongwu is quite attractive, the pieces don't look as appetizing without a No. 1 offensive option to make it all flow.

2. Who will be in charge?

Spoiler:

On Monday, the Hawks surprised the NBA world by relieving general manager Landry Fields of his duties. Hawks governor Tony Ressler also announced that the franchise was hiring a search firm with the goal of hiring an experienced President of Basketball Operations, all while promoting Onsi Saleh to the general manager position. It is a bit odd to elevate an executive, only to then pursue someone on top of Saleh. The same could be said for having an entrenched head coach and hiring a president that might want to make his or her own hire. Regardless, there is uncertainty at the top for the Hawks.

Of course, that is nothing new. Ressler is a famously active owner, which can often lead to trouble with basketball operations. His son, Nick, has reportedly been involved in basketball decisions on a repeated basis, and much of the reporting around Fields was that Atlanta's decision-making process is much more collaborative than one of Fields acting as the clear lead decision maker. Alas, the Hawks might hire a president soon, and a lot can change based on who that is.

3. How will the Hawks use the flexibility created in the De'Andre Hunter trade?

Spoiler:

When the Hawks traded De'Andre Hunter before the 2025 NBA Trade Deadline, the move was met with confusion in many circles. However, a closer look pointed to the move being much more about the future than the present, including the creation of financial and roster flexibility by removing Hunter's significant contract from the books.

Without diving into all of the gritty (and nerdy) financial details, the logical grading of Hunter trade was an "incomplete," pending future moves by Atlanta. If the Hawks do not utilize the flexibility by adding quality to the roster, the Hunter trade would become more challenging to defend. The Hawks need forward depth, shooting depth, and more, and Atlanta has more wiggle room because of the Hunter trade... but they have to utilize that flexibility.

4. Will Dyson Daniels sign an extension?

Spoiler:

This decision isn't as urgent or impactful as some others on the list, simply because there is a safety valve. If the Hawks and Daniels cannot agree on an extension this summer, Daniels would enter restricted free agency in 2026, and Atlanta could match any offer sheet to retain him.

Still, this is an interesting negotiations. Daniels was one of the best defenders in the NBA this season, producing steals at a rate not seen in three decades while also defending the No. 1 option of the opponent each night. On offense, Daniels also took a massive step forward, carrying a real load as a scorer and averaging more than four assists per game.

Defense doesn't always get paid, though, and Daniels' representatives will likely turn to the Jalen Suggs extension from last summer (5 for 150) as a potential template. Are the Hawks willing to go that far or higher? We'll see.

5. Will the Hawks finally spend big?

Spoiler:

The Atlanta Hawks haven't paid the luxury tax since 2010-11 and, even then, the team paid less than $1 million in tax penalties under a system that no longer exists. In short, the Hawks have a well-documented history of luxury tax avoidance, including the reality that the current ownership group, led by Tony Ressler, has never paid the tax since buying the team in 2015.

It is not impossible to build a contender without spending big, but clear restraints make it hard on basketball operations. Atlanta could be a good example moving forward. The Hawks have team-friendly deals in place for Johnson and Okongwu, plus Risacher is on a rookie-scale deal for three more seasons. That should be the foundation of a quality salary structure, but when you plug in something near the max for Young, a reasonable extension for Daniels, and the money you need to supplement the roster with real depth... things get expensive.

Ressler has often said the right things about financially supporting his basketball ops department, and a big move to relieve Fields of his duties and hire a new president shines a bright light on the team's short-term process. Does he want a big splash? Is he willing to spend in a way he hasn't to date? These things are correlated, and if the Hawks are intentionally ducking the luxury tax again over the next year or two, it will feel like the "same old Hawks" in many ways.

Fansided

[HMFFL]

I want Klay Thompson...

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If we trade for Klay what expectations do you have? Starter?

Depending on what it cost us I support adding Klay as long as he comes off our bench.

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[Jamaaliver]

I want Klay Thompson...

If we trade for Klay what expectations do you have?

Starter?

Depending on what it cost us I support adding Klay as long as he comes off our bench.

My promise to Klay Thompson:

• 30 mpg
• Off the bench
• 2nd scoring option on the floor
• Willing to move him in trade if things don't work out for us next season.

[Jamaaliver]

Houston Rockets season is teetering on edge.

They will likely go hunting for stars or offensive engines this summer.

Is there anyone on their roster you guys would pursue in trade for Trae?

I'm interested in Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith, Jr., Fred Van Vleet

If he had to be included for salary matching -- I'd take a flier on Jalen Green -- as a buy low option.

[dms269]

Houston Rockets season is teetering on edge.

They will likely go hunting for stars or offensive engines this summer.

Is there anyone on their roster you guys would pursue in trade for Trae?

I'm interested in Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith, Jr., Fred Van Vleet

If he had to be included for salary matching -- I'd take a flier on Jalen Green -- as a buy low option.

I don't see the value in the ones the Rockets would want to move. Reed was beyond awful this year. The worry with Jabari is only having him under team control and 1 more season. FVV is a filler at this point, especially at 40 million plus. If he is serviceable, but for Trae we would desperately need scorers.

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[Jamaaliver]

Reed was beyond awful this year.

The worry with Jabari is only having him under team control and 1 more season.

Reed Sheppard avg 20ppg on 52% 3-pt shooting in his only three starts this season.

Jabari Smith is approaching RFA, meaning he's under team control for a bit longer. (And since he's coming off a down year, he won't be looking at a huge payday.


All that to say, there still remains some serious upside for the #3 picks in the 2022 and 2024 drafts.

[dms269]

Reed was beyond awful this year.

The worry with Jabari is only having him under team control and 1 more season.

Reed Sheppard avg 20ppg on 52% 3-pt shooting in his only three starts this season.

Jabari Smith is approaching RFA, meaning he's under team control for a bit longer. (And since he's coming off a down year, he won't be looking at a huge payday.


All that to say, there still remains some serious upside for the #3 picks in the 2022 and 2024 drafts.

And how did Shepherd do in the rest of his games? Shepherd is an undersized 2 guard who is going to have to convert to PG sometime down the line.

Adding assets just for the purpose of adding pieces and not considering fit doesn't make sense to me. Feels like Billy Knight all over again in that case.

[HMFFL]

Houston Rockets season is teetering on edge.

They will likely go hunting for stars or offensive engines this summer.

Is there anyone on their roster you guys would pursue in trade for Trae?

I'm interested in Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith, Jr., Fred Van Vleet

If he had to be included for salary matching -- I'd take a flier on Jalen Green -- as a buy low option.

Jabari Smith Jr and Cam Whitmore are the only two players that interest me.

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[Jamaaliver]

And how did Shepherd do in the rest of his games? Shepherd is an undersized 2 guard who is going to have to convert to PG sometime down the line.

Adding assets just for the purpose of adding pieces and not considering fit doesn't make sense to me. Feels like Billy Knight all over again in that case.

Reed Sheppard has literally produced as a starter at every level of basketball.
HS -> College -> G-League -> NBA
Also...he's 20 years old.

I'd gladly give him a shot as an undersized SG next to Dyson as the oversized PG.



If we're being honest, dude: I don't think I've ever seen you in favor of any trade for any player in the NBA.
It's pretty much always that
a) the player sucks or
b) we could never actually acquire them.


Like every single time, going back a decade.

[CP War Hawks]

Sheppard could be had for a 1st as a standalone. Also he's not a point guard.

[HMFFL]

Shooting 3's at 40% has became common.

Reed Sheppard is struggling to figure it out. He will get over the mental bug and struggle to chase expectations.

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[Jamaaliver]

Goga Bitadze is my top trade target for the Hawks front court this summer. He's done well in the past when tasked as a starter for Orlando.

But the Magic seem ready to hand his minutes off the bench now to Jonathan Isaac.

I'm offering Niang for Bitadze immediately to shore up our lack of size in the paint.

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