Atlanta Hawks general manager Landry Fields has always been a brilliant mind throughout his basketball career. Many basketball fans were introduced to him during the night of the 2010 NBA draft when the New York Knicks selected him in the second round. He spent two years in the Big Apple until he received a better offer from the Toronto Raptors in the summer of 2012.
Fields signed a three-year, $20 million offer and averaged 3.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists after three seasons.
After receiving surgery and going through physical therapy, he was unable to be picked up by another team. On September 16th, 2016, the San Antonio Spurs offered him a scouting job as a West Coast scout, and he was later promoted to General Manager of their G-League affiliate, Austin Spurs, in 2019. He did such a great job that former Atlanta Hawks General Manager Travis Schlenk offered him a job as an assistant General Manager in 2020.
Field’s basketball acumen from his days as a player and his eye for talent from his scouting experience made him a prime candidate. Schlenk promoted him to head General Manager on July 1st, 2022, and after facing adversity the first two seasons, he has finally hit his stride. Even though the Hawks have not had a positive record during his tenure, the young talent has improved season by season.
His main priority after assuming office was to construct a winning core around franchise centerpiece Trae Young, and he has done an excellent job of acquiring the pieces. As a 6 ‘1 guard with exceptional playmaking, Young requires a particular core to succeed as a number one option on a championship-caliber team, and Fields might have finally found the path to glory.
The Importance Of The Pieces.
In just the last year alone, he has changed the trajectory of the entire franchise by acquiring Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher in one off-season. Both have proven to be unique talents and fit perfectly around the franchise centerpiece with their abilities. Daniels is having a historic season on defense with 200+ steals, and Risacher has averaged 16.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game over his last fifteen games. Given their accolades, they’re two of the best young players in Hawks history, and they’ve completed the ensemble of talent around Young that fans have been desiring for years.
Fields has created a perimeter defensive wall of size and length to minimize Young’s weaknesses. The other four Hawks starters all have 6’10 wingspans at least, and their defensive rating has slightly increased even with younger personnel, showing their potential for the future.
After years of ups and downs, the franchise is finally moving in the right direction under Fields' guidance. For years, he was subjected to mass ridicule and misplaced blame. Atlanta’s ownership is notorious for its inactivity during NBA Free Agency, and trying to operate within their parameters as a General Manager is very difficult. His most recent moves during the NBA trade deadline solved multiple issues at the expense of veterans De’Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Improving the bench with Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, and Terance Mann has already had a tremendous impact while on team-friendly contracts. The front office has $33 million in cap space, which can be used to re-sign LeVert this off-season. He brought much-needed shot creation to the second unit and fits well with the Hawks' 3&D roster construction. It’s the perfect situation for Tony Ressler and the front office because they are obsessed with avoiding the luxury tax.
Landry’s Next Potential Moves.
The Hawks' next few seasons are focused on developing their young talent into a top contender. Dyson Daniels has two-way all-star potential and will be the youngest player this season to be honored with a First-Team All-Defense selection. Jalen Johnson has become a breakout star, Risacher has showcased some spectacular flashes this season, and Onyeka Okongwu has played great ever since becoming the starting center. He averaged 15.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game in March.
Fields has his young, budding core and veteran-filled bench, so at this point, he must prepare to pay the 'untouchables' for the future. Okongwu is already under contract for the next three years, and Fields secured Johnson with a five-year, $150 million extension on October 22nd, 2024.. Risacher is under contract for the next four years until it's time to negotiate an extension in the summer of 2028.
Daniels has the most important contract because he is the only untouchable with two contract years remaining, ending in 2026. Teams will try to pique his interest with massive offers. Considering what he will develop into, his talents are worth $100-125 million. Re-signing Daniels is vital to the Hawks' success in 2025-26 and beyond.
By constructing this roster in just one season, Fields has finally gained the respect of the Hawks' fan base and national media after two hard years in office. This summer, he should focus on re-signing LeVert and drafting a big man with the Sacramento Kings pick. If he can successfully extend Risacher and Daniels in the future, this Hawks' core will develop into one of the best rosters in franchise history.