The Hawks‘ impending promotion of Kyle Korver to assistant general manager is just one of many changes taking place in the team’s front office this season, writes Sam Amick of The Athletic.
According to Amick, although the Hawks announced last month that Travis Schlenk would be moving into an advisory role after stepping down from his president of basketball operations position, league sources tell The Athletic that Schlenk is no longer part of the operation in Atlanta and is free to leave for another team if he so chooses.
Nick Ressler, the 27-year-old son of Hawks owner Tony Ressler, has had “increasing influence” on both roster and staffing decisions since becoming the franchise’s director of business and basketball operations in December 2020, Amick explains, adding that the younger Ressler’s “effect on the decision-making process” was a factor in Schlenk’s departure.
Amick describes the Dejounte Murray trade as the “beginning of the end” for the previous regime in Atlanta, reporting that Schlenk expressed reservations about the price the team paid for the former Spurs guard (three first-round picks, including two unprotected, and a pick swap). Nick Ressler was the driving force behind that move, per Amick.
The “messiness” involving head coach Nate McMillan in early December also played a part in ownership’s final decision on Schlenk, according to Amick, who adds that Tony Ressler may bring in a more experienced executive at some point to help fill out a fairly green front office. There has also been plenty of chatter about the possibility of the Hawks adding more former players to their basketball operations department, tweets Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
Here’s more on the Hawks:
- Atlanta has been one of the NBA’s most active teams in trade talks in recent weeks and is very much in the market for immediate help, as opposed to trying to recoup draft picks, Amick writes. It’s clear the Hawks’ priority is still to win as soon as possible despite a disappointing start to this season (the team’s record is 19-22).
- Rival executives who have spoken to the Hawks about John Collins indicate that the asking price has come down considerably compared to where it was in past years, says Amick. League sources tell The Athletic that there are some scenarios in which Atlanta is simply asking for a quality player in return for Collins, as opposed to that player plus draft capital.
- Speaking to Amick, Collins referred to Schlenk’s “advisory role” using air quotes and suggested that the Hawks’ players hadn’t received a full explanation for the front office changes. Murray, meanwhile, admitted that his first season in Atlanta has been more turbulent than he anticipated. “I mean, there’s a lot going on (that’s) non-basketball,” Murray said. “And then with basketball, you’ve got guys in trade rumors.”
- Here’s more from Murray on that outside noise: “I wouldn’t say more than what I expected, but more than where I came from in San Antonio where everything was just not as loud. There’s a lot going on, but for me I’m just trying to keep guys together with my leadership, showing up to work, working hard, being vocal and keeping us together, and trying to keep the outside noise the outside noise. But at the end of the day, we all see it. You can’t hide. You can’t run from it. … At the end of the day, winning takes care of it all. So we need to control what we can control, continue to come together as brothers, and try to go out and win basketball games.”
“Rival executives who have spoken to the Hawks about John Collins indicate that the asking price has come down considerably compared to where it was in past years, says Amick. League sources tell The Athletic that there are some scenarios in which Atlanta is simply asking for a quality player in return for Collins, as opposed to that player plus draft capital.”
That’s funny. A certain commenter previously insisted that the asking price for Collins was at least 3-4 first rounders
A certain insane commenter.
Of the following, which would you rather be, rank them in order if possible….delusional, irrational, neurotic, insane, delirious, loco…
A 27 year old owner’s son heavily influencing basketball operations doesn’t bode well for the Hawks’ future.
Yikes!
Many sons of owners are in charge now
They can get rid of any GMs, it’s about who is in power
Ex
Warriors son of owner
Hawks son of owner
Rockets son of owner
And many
Nepotism. Freaking brutal to be a Hawks fan right now lmao
Really sad to see what’s happening with the Hawks and Wolves. Two franchises which were well positioned long-term with talent and solid front offices, only to blow it in the most unnecessary and self inflicted of ways.
One has to wonder where they would be if Rosas doesn’t sleep around and Hawks ownership simply kept its nose out of things and let the front office do its damn job.
Yeah, all the crap Ressler talked about after becoming owner was all a farce. Pathetic, but honestly predictable.
Just gonna let his son play Association Mode with an actual NBA organization. What could go wrong here…
Wow sounds like James Dolan 2.0 in the making…
The only team Hawks should not chat about Collins trade is Jazz because of Danny Ainge
A 2k’er with actual power. Why don’t I see any rejoicing on this board? Should be interesting for the rest of us.
What was everyone’s realistic expectations of the hawks this year?
They weren’t gonna be better than the bucks, celtics, nets, 76ers or heat. Sure they are a couple spots below the 6 seed but i thought they were the level of the bulls. Knicks with brunson are solid and the pacers have surprised some maybe but being in the play in race isn’t some big surprise.
Not really the point, though. The Murray trade was a waste of key ammo and driven by ownership. And who knows who was the driving force behind Hunter’s overpay of an extension.
This doesn’t even account for the fact that two offseasons ago ownership mandated Schlenk going on a spending spree. Not the worst of sins, but anytime ownership starts to meddle it’s a problem.
I wish we could fire the ownership
Yeah they gave up a lot for Murray. But that’s what an all star cost. Especially a young 2way star. This move needs time.
It’s unfortunate Hawks are underperforming. Worse is if they blow this up. I’ve been saying trade Collins for yrs. Especially after drafting Okongwu.