The Atlanta Hawks aren’t chasing a quick fix. They’re betting that the answer is already in the building.
That was the message from President of Basketball Operations Onsi Saleh after Atlanta’s embarrassing Game Six loss to the New York Knicks, when plenty of people expected the Hawks to go hunting for a major roster swing. Saleh didn’t sound interested in the idea that one move would change everything.
“We are not one player away from this, the best iteration of this team is going to be through development and our players currently getting better. We're really excited about the future and what holds there, from the draft to the flexibility moving forward, all that stuff. We're in a good place, position set up moving forward, and our coaching staff has just been remarkable this year.”
That belief shaped Atlanta’s offseason, and it’s more than a slogan. The Hawks are leaning into a roster built around internal growth, and several of their key players already have real development wins on the board.
Jalen Johnson sits at the center of it. Since Quin Snyder took over as head coach, Johnson has improved every season.
Last year, his healthiest NBA season, brought his first All-Star selection and a Third Team All-NBA spot. Atlanta is now banking on him taking another leap, with the upside to become a Top-10 player in the league.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is another major part of the equation. He was supposed to be a bench piece last season, but when Trae Young went down, he was pushed into the starting lineup and exploded from 9.4 PPG to 20.8 PPG.
He also shot 46% from the field and 40% from three, all while bringing strong defense. Now he enters the season as a starter, and that role could help him keep climbing.
Dyson Daniels has become one of the clearest examples of Atlanta’s development bet paying off. When the Hawks traded Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans, Daniels was viewed as a throw-in.
Instead, Atlanta got the better player in the deal, and Daniels has turned into a major success story. The next step is obvious: can he add reliable three-point shooting to go with his elite defense?
Then there’s Onyeka Okongwu, who has kept getting better since Atlanta drafted him 6th overall in 2020. Last season, his outside shot became a real part of the offense, and that changed things for the Hawks.
He shot 37.2% from deep on 5.2 attempts per game. If that holds, the idea of an All-Star leap doesn’t sound far-fetched.
Mouhamed Gueye is another reminder of how far this staff has pushed young talent. He came into the league as a very raw second-round pick three years ago, and now he’s developed into a usable rotation player with elite defensive skills. The offensive side still needs work, but Atlanta has another hit on its hands there too.
Saleh and Snyder are also hoping to squeeze more out of Aaron Wiggins, Asa Newell, and the rookies. If those players can grow, the Hawks’ depth gets better and the ceiling rises with it.
That’s the bet: development over a splashy shortcut. And with the track record Atlanta’s front office and coaching staff have built, it’s not a reckless one.
The article points to the Thunder and Spurs as examples, especially Oklahoma City, where player growth has been just as important as draft luck. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became an MVP candidate, Jalen Williams turned into a second team All-NBA player, and contributors like Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell have helped make that group arguably the deepest team in the league.
Atlanta is trying to follow that path. The Hawks are hoping Johnson grows into that kind of star, while the rest of the young core keeps moving up and gives the team both star power and depth.
In Other News...
Jonathan Kuminga's New Situation Could Change How Hawks Fans Feel
Jonathan Kumingas move to Minnesota has plenty of ripple effects for teams that were watching his market closely, including Atlanta. The forward landed with the Timberwolves on a two-year deal and will enter a situation built around defense first, with his agent Aaron Turner pointing to the fit and the flexibility that comes with a player option in the second season. For a player still trying to carve out the right long-term lane, the setting matters as much as the contract.
Robert Horry has already raised the question that hangs over Kumingas next step, wondering whether his offensive chances could be limited in Minnesota. That kind of concern is exactly why this landing spot is getting attention around the league, because it could shape how Kuminga is viewed over the next couple of seasons and whether he is back on the market again in 2027. For Hawks fans tracking the wider conference picture, it is another reminder that one young talents choice can change the way the rest of the league evaluates the next move. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Front Office Shift Signals A Very Different Atlanta Plan
The Hawks have spent the early part of this offseason reshaping the people in charge as much as the roster itself, and the latest move is another sign the organization wants a different kind of structure moving forward. Atlanta has already brought in Tim Bontemps as a strategic advisor and moved on from Kyle Korver, changes that have underscored a broader front office reset around the teams long-term direction.
Peter Dinwiddie is now the latest addition to that evolving setup, with the Hawks elevating him into a key basketball operations role as they continue building around flexibility. Atlanta has put itself in a position to be patient, with a healthy cap situation and a stockpile of draft assets that give the franchise plenty of options as it tries to decide when and how to make its next move. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Give A Familiar Summer Standout A Real Chance To Impress
Devon Higgs got his next shot with Atlanta on Sept. 8, when the Hawks signed him to a training camp contract and brought back a familiar face from summer ball. Hell be around the team for practices and media day as he tries to turn a strong audition into something more permanent heading into the NBA season.
Higgs already gave the Hawks a glimpse of why he has lingered on their radar, flashing scoring punch and athleticism during Summer League. He was also one of Atlantas more productive scorers in Las Vegas, and that kind of production is exactly what can keep a player in the conversation when the roster starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]