The Atlanta Hawks are stuck in neutral - and time might be running out for Quin Snyder to shift gears.
When Snyder took the reins in Atlanta, there was genuine optimism. After all, this was the same coach who turned a middling Utah Jazz roster into a perennial playoff team.
He guided them to the No. 1 seed in the West back in 2021, building a top-tier defense around Rudy Gobert and squeezing efficient offense out of a group that lacked elite on-ball creators. Snyder made the most of what he had - and that’s exactly what you want in a head coach.
But here in Atlanta, that magic hasn’t traveled.
Snyder hasn’t posted a winning record in any of his three seasons with the Hawks, and this campaign looks like more of the same. The team isn’t built to contend right now - that much is clear.
But even with expectations tempered, the Hawks are underperforming. And more importantly, they’re underdeveloping.
The Rotation Conundrum
One of the biggest critiques circling Snyder right now is his handling of the rotation. Case in point: Atlanta’s recent game against Charlotte. The Hawks were getting worked on the boards and outpaced by the Hornets’ offense, yet Snyder still opted to give rookie Asa Newell minutes at backup power forward.
Now, the idea of giving Newell reps isn’t inherently a bad one. In fact, it makes sense.
The rookie needs floor time, and the Hawks aren’t exactly loaded at the four. Letting him learn through fire, especially against a sharp offensive team like Charlotte, could pay off down the line.
But here’s the issue - that decision doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
Snyder hasn’t consistently committed to developing his young core. Mouhamed Gueye, one of the more intriguing defensive prospects in the league, was a DNP-CD just two games prior. Zaccharie Risacher, the former No. 1 overall pick, hasn’t cracked 24 minutes in any of his last six outings.
So what’s the plan?
That’s the question that keeps hanging over this team. Snyder isn’t leaning fully into development, nor is he pushing all his chips in to win now.
The result? A team floating in no-man’s land - not bad enough to bottom out, not good enough to matter.
A Lost Season, or a Missed Opportunity?
Let’s call it like it is: this season is all but done. Atlanta has moved on from Trae Young and Kristaps Porziņģis, signaling a pivot toward the future. A championship run isn’t on the table, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the season is meaningless.
There’s value in these final months - reps for young players, chances to build chemistry, and maybe even a foundation for a new identity. If Snyder wanted to chase wins, fine - at least that would establish a culture of competitiveness. But without a clear direction, the team is just spinning its wheels.
And with just one year left on Snyder’s deal, the clock is ticking. The front office, led by Onsi Saleh, has a decision to make.
Do they believe Snyder is the guy to shepherd this rebuild? Or is it time to find a new voice - one that can chart a course forward, whether that’s through player development, system building, or both?
Right now, the Hawks aren’t getting the best of either world. And that’s a tough place to be.