The Atlanta Hawks just can't stay out of headlines. While the 2026 Conference Finals come to a close, they're already focused on getting a head start on the offseason. If there's any level of uncertainty in the front office and coaching staff, it's difficult to make any crucial roster alterations.
On Wednesday afternoon, ESPN's Shams Charania broke some news that many expected for some time, revealing that the Hawks are "signing general manager Onsi Saleh to a long-term contract extension and promoting him to President of Basketball Operations."
This is a major move on its own, but what will likely follow would confirm that they're beyond ready to step into this new era with organization-wide confidence.
Hawks are ready to lock in their talented staff for the long-run
Even with the many impressive offseason and mid-season transactions Saleh facilitated over the past year, the part about his first stint as the Hawks' lead decision-maker that impressed those around the league most was his connection to Head Coach Quin Snyder.
With Saleh now locked in as President of Basketball Operations for years to come, there's no reason to believe Snyder won't soon be extended as well. His looming extension is one of the worst kept secrets in the NBA, and now that the first move has been made, it's only a matter of time before the next domino falls.
Big news for Saleh, who absolutely deserves this promotion/extension. https://t.co/MlCHI1HWC8
— Zach Langley (@ZachLangleyNBA) May 27, 2026
Not many head coaches would be too fond of five in-season trades going down, but the way Snyder fully bought in was impressive. Roster uncertainty is a killer, especially with a shorter leash following dealing a franchise superstar, but he made the most of it and likely secured his future with the organization.
The opening night roster looked completely different from the group post-deadline, but they didn't take long at all to gel. That's rare, and a lot of it has to do with excellent coaching and vision for the roster.
The second half of the season made everyone confident in the vision
Saleh clearly knows what he's doing, and so does Snyder. These two leading the way for the next several years is a situation many franchises dream of. The Atlanta Hawks are now in a great position both financially and trajctory-wise, and most of it has to do with the organization's communication from top to bottom.
They now have a pivotal opportunity to make necessary roster corrections this offseason, but they won't want to until they have both Saleh and Snyder locked up long-term.
Well, one is already out of the way, and the next should follow decently soon.
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