The Atlanta Hawks found themselves relying on several unheralded players late last season, and they just decided to let one of them test the waters in Dominik Barlow.
An undrafted free agent who took an unprecedented path from high school to the G League to reach the NBA, Barlow averaged 4.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in his 35 appearances with the Hawks in 2024-25, starting four games along the way.
“The Atlanta Hawks are declining forward Dominick Barlow's team option for $2.2 million, making him a free agent, sources tell ESPN,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on X on June 29.
Sunday was the deadline for the decision, which will have a ripple effect on the rest of the offseason, leaving the Hawks with 10 players under contract.
This comes after the Hawks tendered two-way qualifying offers to Jacob Toppin and Keaton Wallace, the latter of whom appeared in 30 games with the Hawks during the regular season.
The Hawks also added a trio of players after the 2025 NBA Draft, pairing Kobe Johnson, Lamont Butler, and Eli Ndiaye.
Those players could have better chances at making the Hawks' roster now with so many spots open.
However, “could” is the operative word.
Hawks primed to take act as drop zone for bad contracts
The Hawks are also positioned to potentially take back one or, now, several bad contracts in a trade this offseason. They have already shown a willingness to wheel and deal, trading two players plus draft capital for Kristaps Porzingis.
The Hawks also traded down with what was left of their draft capital, picking up a high-value future first in the process.
They also have some in-house business to tend to.
“Atlanta is still in good shape to be able to use the NTMLE, even after acquiring Kristaps Porzingis,” Spotrac’s Keith Smith wrote on June 27. “The Hawks should have enough space to re-sign Caris LeVert, add someone via the NTMLE and fill out their roster without tripping over the luxury tax line.”
The Hawks still have their ace in the hole, too, a $25.3 million traded player exception. It expires on July 7, providing a potential deadline for a blockbuster deal. They still have needs, specifically at backup point guard.
But Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh has been an aggressive force in reshaping the roster, and free agency is still on the horizon.
Gone are the questions about the Hawks possibly taking a step back.
This group will compete in an Eastern Conference that will see many of its top contenders navigating significant changes in their own right and even more impactful injuries. The Hawks could be closer to contending than their finish in 2024-25 suggests.