The Atlanta Hawks’ new top decision-maker faces a slew of roster decisions this offseason, ranging from extensions to additions and, most likely, subtractions from the roster. But there is a big hurdle
At the top of the Hawks' offseason list will be picking a direction.
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley cited a 2023 report from Kevin O’Connor for The Ringer, which detailed the Hawks’ front office had the all-clear to trade Trae Young, and how the four-time All-Star remains a speculative trade candidate, urging the Hawks to “pick a lane” as their “must fix” issue.
Buckley said Young was “tricky to build a winner around,” but highlighted the Hawks’ part in that persistent speculation and how it is a microcosm of the organization.
“It draws more from the fact that Atlanta's commitment to him remains unclear. And it's not just surrounding Young, but the focus of the entire franchise is tricky to pin down,” Buckley wrote on May 29. “The Hawks have managed to piece together an intriguing young core, but when they moved Bogdan Bogdanović and De'Andre Hunter at the deadline, they gained established veterans and financial flexibility—not first-round draft picks.”
The Hawks did acquire a pair of first-round swap options from the Cavaliers for Hunter.
Those options are subject to stipulations from previous dealings, though, which significantly diminishes their value. They also lack control of their own first-round picks, which essentially locks them into remaining competitive through the 2027-28 season.
According to Buckley, the Hawks head into the 2025 offseason “in need of organizational alignment.”
“If the goal is to win with Young, who's extension-eligible, then the talent base needs beefing up,” Buckley wrote. “If the aim is to prioritize the young players such as Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and 2024 top pick Zaccharie Risacher, then Young is one of several veterans who should be shopped in search of roster-building assets.”
Hawks face big hurdle to answering offseason questions
Young has two more seasons on his five-year, $215.1 million contract, but he has a player option for the 2026-27 season and is eligible for an extension worth up to $229 million this offseason.
Beyond Young, the Hawks’ new basketball czar must also determine Dyson Daniels’ value.
Daniels was the No. 8 overall pick in 2022, though not by the Hawks. Still, he has the draft pedigree to warrant an extension.
His elite production during the 2024-25 season, earning Most Improved Player and All-Defensive First Team honors, suggests he should receive top dollar. But with a one-year track record, the Hawks will undoubtedly be taking a risk.
Then, there are veterans like Caris LeVert, Clint Capela, and Larry Nance Jr.
The three veterans are all unrestricted free agents this summer, and the Hawks were expected to pursue new deals with LeVert and Nance while letting Capela walk.
If it plays out that way, the Hawks will need to address their backup center spot, even with the emergence of Mouhamed Gueye late last season. That does not account for potentially having to replace LeVert and Nance, should they leave, too.
The biggest question of all, though, is who that decision-maker will be.
Will it be the current general manager, Onsi Saleh? Will it be an outside president of basketball operations? Until the Hawks answer that question, it is impossible for them to “pick a lane.”