Soaring Down South
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Atlanta Hawks assistant GM named among next wave of executives

By Joshua Buckhalter

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 21: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Landry Fields #2 of the New York Knicks in action against the New Jersey Nets during their pre season game on December 21, 2011 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Nets 88-82. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 21: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Landry Fields #2 of the New York Knicks in action against the New Jersey Nets during their pre season game on December 21, 2011 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Nets 88-82. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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The Atlanta Hawks enjoyed a fair amount of success in a short period. No, they haven’t won a title, yet. But they have drafted really well over the past four years and have made some good decisions in free agency as well, especially last offseason. This has led to many headlines that would bring changes to this team, mostly on the court.

But one list has emerged that could change the franchise from top down. Assistant General Manager Landry Fields was named among the top names for the league’s next wave of general managers.

For as little as it has been on most minds, it could have one of the biggest impacts of any change mentioned before.

The Atlanta Hawks success could lead to Landry Fields’ landing a GM job soon

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The list, from Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, takes a poll of over two dozen league personnel to compile names from each team that would be suitable for an organization’s top post.

It’s broken down into several categories ranging from ‘the usual suspects’ to ‘the agents’.

Fields actually could have qualified for a couple of categories. The ‘former players’, which he would obviously qualify for after spending five years in the NBA.

Originally a second-round pick (39th overall) of the Knicks, Fields averaged 9.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in two seasons in New York.

He then averaged just 3.3 points and 2.7 boards across three seasons with the Toronto Raptors.

The 6-foot-7 former Stanford standout then transitioned into scouting with the San Antonio Spurs before taking over as general manager of their G-League affiliate in Austin.

Travis Schlnk brought Fields in just last October and, already, he could have a need for a new assistant GM in short order.

It’s one of the “drawbacks” of having team success. Others want a piece of it in hopes of recreating it. We often think of this simply in terms of player movement where role players often leaver for greater opportunity.

The Hawks did a good job this offseason keeping their promising group together on the court this offseason, handing out several large contracts to Trae Young, John Collins, and Clint Capela and re-signing Lou Williams while adding pieces in Delon Wright and Gorgui Dieng in free agency.

And we’ve raved plenty about their draft class.

That’s a lot to like about this team. And, given how much of the turnaround was realized this past season, it’s easy to why Fields would be at or near the top of many lists to run a team in the very near future.

Next. Atlanta Hawks: Where does John Collins rank amongst top-10 active power forwards. dark

It can be hard to know exactly what an individual’s role is in an NBA front office with their liberal use (and creation) of titles. But, as fans learned with Schlenk, great executives often come from great situations.

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