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Opportunism has defined the Atlanta Hawks' front office strategy under Onsi Saleh for the last two offseasons. Rather than pursuing splashy blockbuster deals, Saleh has methodically built a solid roster through smaller, savvy moves. A retrospective look at the 2025 offseason transactions provides insight into how those decisions have panned out.
The first major move for Saleh as the Hawks' lead decision-maker involved trading the 13th overall pick to the New Orleans Pelicans for the more favorable of New Orleans' and Milwaukee's selections, which turned out to be No. 23. Atlanta used that pick to draft Asa Newell, who spent much of his rookie season in the G-League but appeared in 44 NBA games, averaging 5.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in 11.4 minutes per game while shooting 54% from the field and 39% from three-point range. Additionally, the trade gave the Hawks solid odds of jumping into the top four of a top-heavy draft, but they ultimately landed the No. 8 pick, which they used to select Kingston Flemings. While the trade didn't reach its highest possible ceiling, it remains a strong move that the Hawks would repeat. Grade: A.
Key Analysis
Perhaps the most impactful signing was Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who inked a four-year, $62 million contract. After starting the season as a bench option, Alexander-Walker moved into the starting lineup following an injury to Trae Young and never relinquished the role. He posted career highs in points (20.8), rebounds (3.4), assists (3.7), and steals (1.31) per game, along with shooting splits of 45.9% from the field, 39.9% from three, and 90.2% from the free-throw line. His performance earned him the NBA's Most Improved Player Award, marking the second straight season a Hawks player won the honor. With Atlanta posting a 42-29 record in his starts, Alexander-Walker is expected to remain a starter, though the addition of Lu Dort adds some uncertainty. Despite a disappointing playoff series against the Knicks, his potential for further growth remains. Grade: A+.
The Hawks took a big swing by acquiring Kristaps Porzingis from Boston in a deal that sent Terance Mann and the No. 22 pick to Brooklyn. Porzingis was highly effective when on the court, but he played only 17 games due to injuries and illness before being traded at the deadline for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield. The vision of pairing Porzingis with Onyeka Okongwu as a top center duo didn't materialize, but the minimal cost and the ability to shed Mann's contract prevented the move from being a disaster. Grade: B-.
Luke Kennard signed a one-year, $11 million deal and delivered exactly what was expected: 7.9 points per game on an incredible 49.7% three-point shooting over 46 games. He was later traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Gabe Vincent and a second-round pick, which also created a traded player exception used to acquire Aaron Wiggins. Kennard was a solid contributor but didn't elevate the team significantly. Grade: C+.