The NBA offseason is in full swing for the Atlanta Hawks, and they’ve already made a massive move before June. After altering the trajectory of the Hawks' future in one season, Tony Ressler and the Hawks executives rewarded Onsi Saleh for his hard work with a new lucrative extension.
Now that the Edmonton native will reside in Georgia for the long term, it’s time to find his cast of characters for this new chapter in the Hawks' construction.
David Lewin of the Boston Celtics
Saleh’s deal was one of many moves within the Hawks' front office, and with it came the loss of many talented executives. Most notably, former Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations Bryson Graham has joined the Chicago Bulls as their new General Manager.
Although it was a lovely new opportunity for Graham, it was a devastating loss for Saleh’s cadre of executives. They must find a replacement before the 2026-27 season, and it has to be a solidified name, given Atlanta’s Playoff expectations moving forward.
One name that would ring bells is David Lewin of the Boston Celtics. He cut his teeth with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2007 to 2011, before joining the Celtics in 2012 as a Scouting Coordinator.
In 12 years, he worked his way up to Assistant General Manager and Brad Stevens’ right-hand man. He helped Boston build their new-generation powerhouse, culminating in their championship in 2024, and he could do the same for Atlanta.
Working alongside the 2026 Executive of the Year will certainly rub off on him, and it could take the runner-up for the award to the next level. Since Saleh is taking on more responsibility, it’s only natural that he’ll need more advice from his underlings.
Having Lewin in the front office brings in another experienced member, just as Bryson Graham did. His replacement has to be just as talented, if not more, and bringing in someone with a ring on their finger will be a good sign.
Mike Wilks of the OKC Thunder
While the Front Office suffered a blow with Graham’s absence, the sideline also experienced two losses with Conner Varney and Ronald Nored departing for Butler University. This comes one season after losing former Assistant Brittni Donaldson to the WNBA’s newest expansion team, the Portland Fire.
Varney fulfilled Donaldson’s role, which was to challenge the controversial calls, but now the Hawks must find a replacement for Donaldson’s replacement.
One potential candidate is knocking on the door of his second consecutive NBA Finals appearance. Thunder Assistant Coach Mike Wilks possesses expertise after playing in the NBA from 2002 to 2009 and coaching the Thunder from 2019 to the present day.
At the age of 47, he’s accumulated valuable experience from both sides of the ball. He’s also familiar with a championship culture, and he could bring it to Atlanta. We saw how Saleh’s tenure in the Golden State benefited his acumen for the game, and Wilks has proven his value to a winning team after helping Oklahoma turn into what it is today.
He would be reliable for Quin Snyder from day one, and being around NBA Basketball since 2002 gives him crucial credibility when it comes to challenging plays. He’s seen a lot during his time in the league, and offering Wilks a higher-paying position could get the job done.
Matt Nielsen Of The San Antonio Spurs
We end our list of candidates with a San Antonio Spurs Assistant Coach. The Australian joined the team in 2021, and he’s been instrumental in developing their new crop of young talent.
In just three years after winning the 2023 NBA Draft lottery, the Spurs are already on the verge of an NBA Finals appearance. Nielsen has been there every step of the way, and he’s overseen newly minted Head Coach Mitch Johnson's seamless transition to the team.
Nielsen was a developmental coach in the NBA G-League from 2019 to 2021, and the world is witnessing the results of his efforts in real time. The Hawks could use his prowess and eye for improvement as they fill out their roster for the future.
The highly anticipated 2026 NBA Draft will add a new piece of young talent to the Hawks' core, so Quin Snyder needs proven assistants to sharpen the new tools for Atlanta’s offensive engine.
Not to mention, having a fellow Australian help Dyson Daniels with his offense could unlock a new talent in Atlanta’s defensive ace, and the two would build rapport faster than most in this situation, leading to rapid improvement for the 23-year-old.
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