It’s been a busy offseason in Atlanta this summer with new players and new executives moving to the city. On Tuesday morning, the Hawks announced that Peter Dinwiddie has been promoted to executive vice president of basketball operations.
Hawks' new front office is foolproof
The Hawks experienced a litany of on-court changes last season that caused a ripple effect throughout the organization. Although fans were divided over the end of the Trae Young era in February, by April the controversy felt like a thing of the past when the Hawks made the playoffs for the first time in three years.
Their momentum didn’t stop there. The Hawks were one of the biggest winners of the offseason, with a successful NBA Draft cycle and free-agent signings.
Shortly after the draft, Atlanta reportedly hired Tim Bontemps as a strategic advisor and parted ways with franchise legend Kyle Korver. It was an abrupt move that stunned a corner of the fanbase, but Korver's departure comes at the expense of the Hawks becoming a legitimate contender.
President of Basketball Operations Onsi Saleh's staff was devastated by the loss of Bryson Graham. The Texas A&M graduate accepted a job with the Chicago Bulls, and it was mandatory the Hawks find a worthy replacement.
Now that Dinwiddie has his promotion, Atlanta has a board of intelligent basketball minds leading its young team. Each member has been hand picked by Saleh, and the Edmonton native has proven himself in his short tenure as the Hawks' lead decision-maker.
The result of proper leadership is sustainable success
His main priority in year one was to replenish Atlanta's assets and clean up the payroll. Fast forward 16 months, and the Hawks have 14 draft picks through the year 2033.
Their salary cap hierarchy is also relatively healthy. They have $196 million committed, with Jalen Johnson, a budding All-Star, making $30 million annually.
Their financial freedom has set them up nicely for the future. Next summer, they will have up to $50 million in cap space. It’s certainly enticing, considering the fact that Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Kawhi Leonard will all be unrestricted free agents next summer.
Saleh and the front office could either use the money on a player or extend Lu Dort’s contract if he performs well this season.
We’re starting to see Saleh’s goals for “optionality” take shape. He’s only been here one full season, and the franchise is on a completely different trajectory.
Depending on his move next summer, the Hawks can return to the Eastern Conference Finals sooner rather than later.
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