Atlanta’s front office looks nothing like it did a year ago, and the changes keep coming. On Tuesday morning, the Hawks announced that Peter Dinwiddie has been promoted to executive vice president of basketball operations.
That move fits the broader reshaping of the organization this summer. Atlanta has brought in new players and new executives, while the on-court turnaround from last season has helped reset the mood around the franchise. The Hawks went through a long stretch of change during the year, and even the debate around the end of the Trae Young era in February had faded by April, when the team reached the playoffs for the first time in three years.
The offseason only added to that momentum. Atlanta emerged as one of the biggest winners of the summer after a strong NBA Draft cycle and a set of free-agent additions.
Shortly after the draft, the Hawks reportedly hired Tim Bontemps as a strategic advisor and moved on from franchise legend Kyle Korver. The decision surprised part of the fanbase, but the organization clearly viewed it as part of a larger push toward real contention.
The loss of Bryson Graham also forced another adjustment inside the front office. The Texas A&M graduate left for a job with the Chicago Bulls, leaving president of basketball operations Onsi Saleh to fill a significant opening. Dinwiddie’s promotion gives Atlanta another experienced voice in the room, and Saleh’s staff now features a group of basketball minds he has personally assembled.
Saleh has moved quickly since taking over. His first major task was to rebuild Atlanta’s asset base and clean up the payroll, and the results are already visible. The Hawks now hold 14 draft picks through 2033, giving the franchise a deep stash of future flexibility.
The cap sheet is in better shape, too. Atlanta has $196 million committed, and Jalen Johnson is locked in at $30 million per year after emerging as a budding All-Star. That structure leaves the Hawks with real room to maneuver.
Next summer could be especially interesting. Atlanta could have up to $50 million in cap space, and the list of potential unrestricted free agents includes Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Kawhi Leonard. The Hawks also have the option of using that money elsewhere or extending Lu Dort’s contract if he puts together a strong season.
It’s the kind of flexibility Saleh has been chasing through his idea of “optionality,” and the early returns are starting to show. He has been on the job for only one full season, but Atlanta’s direction is already very different.
Depending on what comes next, the Hawks could be positioned to get back to the Eastern Conference Finals sooner rather than later.
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 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 🡒]
Hawks Give A Familiar G League Path Another Look
The Hawks have continued to shuffle the edges of their roster, adding forward Keyshawn Bryant and waiving guard Devon Higgs in a move announced by the team. Bryant arrives with three seasons of NBA G League experience and has already bounced around multiple organizations, while Higgs has spent most of his pro career in the G League since going undrafted in 2023.
It is another sign of how the back end of Atlantas camp roster is being managed with an eye toward depth and developmental continuity. The Hawks are full at 21 players, and the timing of the move suggests they are still sorting out which young pieces fit best as training camp competition moves along. [Read more 🡒]