Landry Fields Fired as Hawks GM After Missing NBA Playoff Bracket; Onsi Saleh Replaces

After disappointingly having their season end in the play-in tournament for the second straight year, the Atlanta Hawks are making a major change.

The Hawks announced on Monday that general manager Landry Fields has been fired after three seasons in the role. Assistant GM Onsi Saleh has been promoted to GM as Fields' replacement.

The team also announced that it will begin the search for a president of basketball operations and hired Sportsology Group to lead the process. Saleh will oversee day-to-day basketball operations for the time being.

"Every offseason we evaluate how we operate and ways we can improve our organization," principal owner Tony Ressler said in a release. "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."

Ressler continued: "I would genuinely like to thank Landry for his leadership during his time with us. 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."

According to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the Philadelphia 76ers' Elton Brand is expected to be among the candidates for the Hawks' lead executive job.

The Hawks went 40-42 and lost to the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat in the play-in tournament, failing to secure the seventh or eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta has not advanced past the first round of the playoffs since its impressive run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.

The top priority for Saleh and the eventual president of basketball operations will be to figure out a plan for star point guard Trae Young. There is speculation that the Hawks' recent lack of success could make Young a trade candidate this summer, so the new regime will have some major decisions to make sooner rather than later.