Quin Snyder is 76-88 through two full seasons as the Atlanta Hawks’ head coach, but his job may be more secure now than it may have seemed at season’s end.
Snyder took over during the 2022-23 season, leading the Hawks to a 10-11 finish. They won two playoff games that season, against the Boston Celtics, but have missed the postseason in Snyder’s two full campaigns.
However, the Hawks’ recent front office hires could suggest Snyder is entrenched.
Both SVP of basketball operations Bryson Graham and SVP of strategy and operations Peter Dinwiddie will report to Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh, arguably to Snyder’s benefit.
“All of the big names, GMs or agents, that were reportedly in contention to go above Onsi are, obviously, out of the mix now,” NBA insider Zach Lowe said on “The Zach Lowe Show” on June 9. “This is his [Saleh’s] team, and also, I think, Quin Snyder’s team. I think this is a signal that Quin Snyder is, maybe, going to be the most important non-ownership voice on the team.”
Dinwiddie and Graham both arrive highly regarded from their previous stops with the Philadelphia 76ers and New Orleans Pelicans, where they played key roles in finding valuable prospects (Graham) and were involved in various transactions (Dinwiddie).
What they do not have is experience running a team.
Ditto for Saleh, who joined the Hawks in 2024. He assumed control after the team fired his predecessor, Landry Fields, under whom Saleh served as assistant GM alongside Kyle Korver.
Hawks are looking like 'Quin Snyder's team'
Korver’s role is believed to be safe. But the underlying theme of a lack of experience seemingly bodes well for Snyder, who led the Utah Jazz for eight seasons from 2014-15 through the 2021-22 campaign.
HoopsHype reported in April that Snyder got significant control when he was hired in 2023.
That was “walked back” the following offseason, but the Hawks’ path may have led them right back where they began with the highly regarded head coach.
There were questions about Snyder’s future, specifically whether he could be on the hot seat or even have wandering eyes. The Hawks’ latest hires have Snyder as the most senior voice, notably behind Korver, who is credited with pushing for Atlanta to hire the coach.
The constant change and shuffling is disconcerting.
FIelds rose to prominence with the Hawks following a path similar to Saleh’s. Keeping Snyder is an acknowledgement of the circumstances around his tenure so far.
Whatever the catalyst, the Hawks are not immune to repeating the past if they refuse to learn from it. Notably, Snyder has been a big fan of Trae Young and vice versa. That is a critical part of the puzzle amid ongoing speculation about the All-Star guard’s future.
The Hawks may not be done searching for president of basketball operations.
Snyder's say may also be higher than ever, which could also mean that whomever assumes that title, if anyone, will still have to at least co-lead with the head coach.