A franchise is in turmoil and looking to start over.
The Atlanta Hawks parted ways with general manager Landry Fields, elevated Onsi Saleh to GM and hired an executive search firm to locate a president of basketball operations, the team announced Monday.
The Hawks’ season ended abruptly Friday night with a 123-114 play-in loss to the Miami Heat. The Hawks were a disappointing 40-42 this season and have not reached the playoffs since a first-round exit in 2023 against the Boston Celtics. Fields posted an overall record of 117-129 in his tenure.
Fields and the Hawks drafted Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft. The French forward averaged 12.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in 75 games (73 starts) during his rookie campaign.
“Every offseason we evaluate how we operate and ways we can improve our organization” Hawks principal owner Tony Ressler said in a statement. “As we enter this pivotal offseason, we have several complex decisions ahead of us, and we are committed to providing the human and financial resources needed to ensure that we navigate these decisions with a high level of precision and foresight. Adding an accomplished, senior-level leader to provide strategic direction and structure as well as partnering with Onsi and our talented front office is a top priority.”
The Hawks hired Sportsology Group to assist in finding a president of basketball operations. According to their official website, Sportsology Group says it is a “leading provider of premium knowledge, strategic advisory, and operational support in the sports industry. Our expertise is focused on franchise owners, global leagues and federations, and Institutional Investors, driving success and fueling transformative growth.”
Embed from Getty ImagesFields, 36-years-of-age, a former NBA player, joined the Hawks as an assistant GM in 2020 and was promoted to GM just two years later in 2022. Fields brought on board Quin Snyder as coach during the 2022-23 season, after he spent the previous eight years with the Utah Jazz.
“I would genuinely like to thank Landry for his leadership during his time with us,” Rossler said. “Landry made our franchise better and left contributions that have positioned us for growth. I am grateful for his dedication and wish him success in his next endeavor.”
Saleh joined the Hawks a year ago as assistant GM. He came from the Golden State Warriors dynasty, where he spent three seasons in their front office, including the 2023-24 season as vice president of basketball strategy and team counsel. Prior to that, he was with the San Antonio Spurs’ basketball operations staff and was the team’s director of strategy and process and chief of staff.
“Onsi has played significant roles with two of the most well-respected organizations in the NBA,” Fields said in a statement a year ago. “In addition to his experience and expertise, we are thrilled to add someone with our shared values to our leadership team.”
A Canadian native from Edmonton, Alberta, he graduated from the University of Alberta with a degree in biological sciences and a post-grad degree in history. He also graduated from Tulane University Law School in New Orleans Louisiana.
