Onsi Saleh hasn't taken very long to put the Atlanta Hawks back on the map.
Prior to taking over basketball operations for the storied franchise earlier this year, Saleh played 2nd fiddle to Atlanta's former GM, Landry Fields.
Fields took over as GM for the Hawks halfway through the 2022 season, one year removed from being denied a trip to the NBA Finals by the eventual champions, the Milwaukee Bucks. Fields did little to bolster the supporting squad around Trae Young during the next three years, leading to his inevitable firing a week after the 2024-2025 season finally sputtered to a stop in Atlanta.
Saleh learned many lessons from his former boss, most importantly, it appears he learned not to play it safe in an ever-changing league. While Fields opted to be content with what was assumed to be a winning formula from 2021, Saleh immediately recognized the league isn't the same as it was 4 years ago, and made move after move this summer to more feasibly put Atlanta back on top of the East.
NBA executives are already recognizing Onsi's greatness
In a recent poll of NBA executives by The Athletic, the Hawks topped the charts in one intriguing category - the front office most rapidly on the rise. Rivaled only by the stellar Detroit Pistons (earning 8 votes, 5 more than 3rd place), the Hawks earned 12 votes amongst execs as the non top-5 front office most deemed on the rise.
Saleh's shrewd moves have been headlined by three key changes.
First and foremost, Saleh acquired the former all-star Kristaps Porzingis for pennies on the dollar, essentially giving away nothing but dead salary space. Saleh quickly followed this play up by signing Nickeil Alexander-Walker to a long-term, team-friendly deal that surrounded their young core with another defensive-minded wing.
As good as these moves were, they pale in comparison to Saleh's draft night fleece of the New Orleans Pelicans. No matter how good Derik Queen may end up being, giving up a likely top 3 pick in a loaded 2026 draft is nothing short of insanity - something Saleh was rapidly able to take advantage of.
The pick just keeps on getting better and better, with the recent injury to Giannis Antetokounmpo likely throwing the Bucks into the lottery - remember, this pick is the better of the Pelicans and Bucks in 2026.
All told, NBA execs are keen to recognize Saleh as a tough competitor putting together a rapidly rising roster in a challenging Eastern Conference. The Hawks are soaring and on the rise, and the league is on notice.