Kyle Korver for threeeeeeeeee!
The Atlanta Hawks got to see Kyle Korver in his prime - helping lead the team to significant regular season success. His long, impressive career that spanned 17 years concluded in Milwaukee, but his post-playing days brought him back home.
The 2014-15 NBA All-Star quietly worked his way up the ranks in the Hawks' front office, surviving numerous regimes with different mindsets. Not even a year after being hired as Director of Player Affairs and Development, he was promoted to Assistant General Manager.
Leaving Korver behind, even when attempting to build a new culture, never felt like the right move. Him stepping down, now, is a metaphorical departure. While his presence will certainly be missed, Atlanta is set to operate with a completely new group - coinciding with the ones on the court.
Korver isn't the only front office member to depart - meaning it's go-time
In Atlanta's front office, two of the most prominent voices behind lead decision-maker Onsi Saleh were Korver and Bryson Graham.
Graham, 39, is now the Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Chicago Bulls. While Korver's next career move is currently unknown, he's said to be looking forward to his next chapter.
With two respected voices now gone, the only thing left to do is shine on the court.
If there isn't much improvement in a season as important as this upcoming one, things could begin looking a bit shaky.
Not that Saleh isn't doing a phenomenal job building this squad, because he is, but outside noise can sometimes dictate critical decision-making, and significant changes the offseason prior certainly won't help.
The thing is, the Hawks, and people who follow them closely, aren't even considering this nightmare a possibility. They know they're likely to make a leap in the Eastern Conference standings, and there's never been a better time to.
Atlanta believes they can make some real noise this year
One of the most elite teams on both ends of the floor following last season's All-Star break, the Atlanta Hawks are looking to carry that momentum into the fresh campaign.
After being the only team to give the eventual-champion New York Knicks a real scare, and adding a few quality rotation players, they're giving themselves nothing short of a legitimate shot.
While seeing Korver leave hurts the heart of many Hawks fans, both sides seem to be confident about what's next. And they should be.
Add us as a preferred source on Google