When general manager Landry Fields was fired on April 21st, the Atlanta Hawks’ front office was in limbo. The franchise had missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in five years. Trae Young mock trades were running rampant.
But when Onsi Saleh was promoted to the general manager position that same day, the direction of the Hawks changed from a franchise in disarray to one of the most shrewd teams in the league.
Saleh brought with him a wealth of experience, coming over from the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors, where he had tremendous mentors. “I hit the lottery,” Saleh said. “...learning from under [Spurs GM] R.C. Buford, Bob Myers, [Gregg] Pop[ovic], and Steve Kerr. They really helped me be prepared for this role.”
That level of preparation has shown itself in the two-plus months since his appointment in the front office. Dealing for a high-upside player like Kristaps Porzingis on an expiring deal while giving up almost no important assets. Fleecing the New Orleans Pelicans in a mid-draft deal. Signing Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard in free agency.
The common thread through it all? Each acquisition’s compatibility with franchise player Trae Young.
Atlanta has made their intentions clear: the Trae Young era will continue
Porzingis fits as a potent sixth man and stretch big, giving Young more room to work as a scorer and playmaker. Some might quibble with giving an injury-prone player $30 million, but there’s a safety net to the move. If the injury and illness concerns pop back up, Porzingis can re-enter free agency and the Hawks can gain his salary slot back.
Alexander-Walker is a viable two-way wing that pairs perfectly with the smaller Young. He’s coming off of a run to the Western Conference Finals with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he was a critical part of the rotation. A six-year veteran, he provides above-average shooting from deep and formidable defense.
Add in the trade with New Orleans during the first round of the NBA Draft. Atlanta now owns a potential lottery pick (the most favorable of the Pelicans and Bucks) that is one of the more exciting draft assets in the league considering the direction of both franchises. Should either team have a disappointing season, the Hawks would have a strong pick to add to their contending roster.
It’s been a home run offseason for Atlanta, but it starts at the front office level. They’ve clearly invested in the roster with the right pieces. There are no bloated contracts on their salary sheet. They’ve kept future flexibility (see the Porzingis deal) and created value (Pelicans trade).
Looking ahead, Saleh will have more difficult decisions and hard work to execute on, but he has aced his first task: build a quality roster (on paper) around Trae Young.