The Atlanta Hawks’ direction was already in question, and it became exponentially more so following the news of general manager Landry Fields’ firing. But the Hawks have a succession plan for his position with Onsi Saleh stepping up.
Amid ongoing reports about their search for a new president of basketball operations, even more departures have or are coming down.
They could leave a significant void, too.
“In wake of Atlanta Hawks dismissing GM Landry Fields, the organization is also parting ways with VP of Pro Personnel Grant Liffmann after three seasons with the team, league sources informed me,” Haynes Briefs’ Chris Haynes reported on X on April 28.
“Liffmann played integral role in targeting players in free agency and trades, including acquisition of Dyson Daniels from New Orleans.”
That was striking enough, since Daniels had a breakout first season with the Hawks.
It also puts Fields’ role in this exact roster construction in question, especially since the new basketball czar must handle Daniels' contract situation. Trae Young is also extension-eligible. And the Hawks are set to separate from more front office personnel.
“Hawks executive advisor Chris Emens is not expected to remain with Atlanta, league sources told HoopsHype,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto wrote on April 29.
These departures are not necessarily negatives.
Even if the individuals leaving held significant roles in recent moves that have worked, adding a new president of basketball ops means staff changes like that are likely the least of anyone’s worries in the organization.
Those positioned beneath the new chief should all be on alert, especially considering the issues that have emerged as reasons for Fields’ firing.
Firing Landry Fields just another day for Hawks
Among them was his not confronting head coach Quin Snyder about putting some of the team's younger players on the floor more.
Of course, it is hard to win with young players, which was Snyder and this team's aim.
Still, HoopsHype reported on Facebook on April 22 that Snyder could also be on the hot seat entering next season. Snyder is 76-88 in two full seasons as the Hawks’ head coach.
The team won four more games this past season than it did the year prior. It is still a results-oriented business, though, and the Hawks have missed the playoffs in back-to-back years.
Per HoopsHype’s February intel, ownership gave Snyder tremendous say in personnel but walked it back before this season.
The website argued that neither Snyder nor Fields deserved to be “scapegoated” for the troubles, noting Snyder maximized players he was given and Fields cleaned up the mess made after Nick Ressler, son of Hawks governor Tony Ressler, made.
Particularly, the trade for Dejounte Murray.
That factored into former Hawks president of basketball ops Travis Schlenk stepping down. It was then that Fields, already in his GM role, assumed control of the team.
Fields supported the Murray trade. He spent the next two years trying to justify and rebound from it. The Hawks made strides to that end, and still decided to move on even after multiple reports have now revealed the various voices with sway within the organization.
For the Hawks, changing directions is not a bug. It is a feature, and a seemingly inevitable one.