The conclusion of every season offers a period of reflection.
Some will see the Atlanta Hawks’ 51-point loss to the New York Knicks that ended their season and call for mass changes. However, as Hawks General Manager Onsi Saleh takes a hard look at the roster and season as a whole, he will realize that Atlanta isn’t far off from being a contender in the Eastern Conference.
Over the course of the season, many changes occurred in Atlanta. For one, the Hawks moved on from their franchise star, Trae Young, amid an injury-riddled season. Jalen Johnson ascended into an All-Star. The roster Atlanta went into the playoffs with was different from the one they had at the beginning of the season in October.
Given everything that happened, the Hawks overachieved and had a successful season. They were supposed to be a play-in team once again, but a surge in the second half of the season catapulted Atlanta into the top six of the Eastern Conference.
Despite the success, there are still holes in the roster that need to be patched. The good news is the Hawks will enter the NBA Draft with three draft picks, including two in the first round, and plenty of money to spend in free agency.
Hawks Must Address Lack of Size This Offseason
One of the main issues the Hawks had throughout the season was a lack of size — especially in the front court. Going into the season, Atlanta had the tallest team in the NBA by average height, a roster that averaged out at 6-foot-7. That size advantage was largely due to the acquisition of 7-foot-3 big man Kristaps Porzingis from the Boston Celtics. Unfortunately, his availability concerns forced the Hawks to trade him away at the deadline. In his place, Atlanta acquired Jock Landale at the trade deadline.
Landale suffered an ankle injury and was unavailable for the playoffs, leaving a major hole as Onyeka Okongwu’s backup center. Among active centers in the NBA, Okongwu is the 79th-tallest player at 6-foot-8. Unsurprisingly, the Knicks dominated the paint and the boards during the series. The Knicks were +54 on the glass in the series. During the final three games of the series, New York was +52 scoring in the paint. Ultimately, the size disadvantage was hard to overcome.
For as good as Okongwu is, his lack of size for a center presents issues for rebounding and rim protection. While he was in the top 20 in total blocks (79), he also allowed opponents to shoot over 65% at the rim this season. This offseason, the Hawks should once again look to add size to the roster to improve rebounding, defense and physicality.
The Solution
The first thing the Hawks can do to address their size problem is to bring back Landale on a cheap deal. The 31-year-old veteran is set to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) this offseason, and Atlanta can re-sign him on a veteran minimum contract. Landale is a quality backup option for the Hawks, who averaged 9.1 points per game and 4.1 rebounds per game while shooting 39.1% from three as well.
Oklahoma City Thunder big man Isaiah Hartenstein has a club option this offseason worth $28.5 million. Given that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams will be owed a combined $123.8 million next season, the Thunder may opt to decline Hartenstein’s team option. Atlanta will certainly have the flexibility to sign him off the open market, as they will have over $70 million coming off the books this offseason.
Michigan’s Aday Mara has soared up draft boards after his March Madness performance. The 7-foot-3, 255 pound big man had a breakout season with the Wolverines, averaging 12.1 points per game and 6.8 rebounds along with 2.6 blocks per game. His skill set can be exactly what the Hawks have been missing. Mara is highly coveted because the center position is weaker than in years past. However, this is a class loaded with guard talent, and the Hawks may swing for the best player available.
Franchise-Altering Decisions in Hawks Offseason
In the two games Atlanta won versus New York, CJ McCollum and Jonathan Kuminga combined to score 95 points. They were easily the biggest reason why the Hawks were able to steal two games away from the Knicks. McCollum’s $30.6 million contract will to expire, and reports suggest that he is seeking a two-year deal worth between $35-$40 million.
Along with McCollum, Atlanta also has a decision to make on Kuminga’s $24.3 million team option. Potentially, the Hawks can give these two over $40 million combined next season. There is a possibility the Hawks retain both players for next season, but is it worth it? The upside with Kuminga is that he is only 23-years-old, but his price tag might be too high for Atlanta to consider picking up.
Additionally, the Hawks will be looking to extend Quin Snyder’s contract. At 59-years-old, Snyder is one of the oldest coaches in the NBA. However, he has been a huge part of Atlanta’s success recently, and the front office recognizes it. Snyder is perhaps the best coach the Hawks have had since Mike Budenholzer, who left the franchise after the 2017-18 season. Since then, Atlanta fired both Lloyd Pierce and Nate McMillan before bringing Snyder in at the tail end of the 2022-2023 season.
Snyder led multiple 50-win teams during his time with the Utah Jazz. The Hawks have only had two 50-win seasons since 2010, when they won 53 games during the 2009-2010 season and 60 games during the 2014-2015 season.
The Solution
In an appearance on “The Old Man and The Three,” McCollum said he was “tired of moving his family around.” He has played on three different teams since the 2024-2025 season. McCollum will garner a free agent market, but he can opt to stay if his number one aspiration is not to move his family to another city. As for what Atlanta is willing to pay him, there’s no telling. There’s no way to know if the rumor of his next contract demands is accurate. But there is no doubt that both McCollum and the front office have been in dialogue.
As for Snyder, the players don’t have an issue with him as a coach. An indicator that a head coach is on the chopping block is if they don’t align with the franchise vision. Although, Snyder is not a Saleh hire, they share a similar vision for the franchise. Snyder will enter the final year of his deal next season and coaches are typically against coaching on an expiring deal. Both the Hawks and Snyder will work to get a new deal done this offseason.
Atlanta took a flier on Kuminga at the trade deadline. They saw him as a fit and someone who could help the team. He played sparingly with the Golden State Warriors, but his time with the Hawks allowed him to get bigger opportunities. Kuminga played well at times and proved he could be a valuable piece to the right team. With that said, the decision to bring him back next season hinges on the willingness to shell out the money. While the Hawks would certainly welcome Kuminga back, $24.3 million might be too steep of a price to pay.
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