Category: Atlanta Hawks Blog

Atlanta Hawks blog

Hawks President of Basketball Operations Travis Schlenk steps down

Hawks President of Basketball Operations Travis Schlenk is stepping down from his position as president and transitioning to an advisor position reporting directly to Principal Owner Tony Ressler.

Effective immediately, General Manager Landry Fields will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Hawks Basketball Operations team.

Hired in May 2017, Schlenk has overseen the rebuilding of the Hawks beginning with a 24-win season in 2017-18 and peaking with the franchise’s second-ever trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021. Last season, the Hawks finished 43-39 and were eliminated in the First Round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs in five games by the Miami Heat.

“Throughout this season, Tony and I have had multiple, honest conversations about some of the personal things I’ve been going through and how I’ve been feeling, and I appreciate the counsel he has provided me as well as the opportunity he gave me six seasons ago to be a first-time general manager. As we enter a new year, the timing feels right for me to take a step back, reflect and prioritize my family,” Schlenk said.

“I am proud of the group I assembled both on the floor and in the front office. We have built a strong foundation for the Hawks franchise and achieved a high level of success. As an advisor, I look forward to working with Tony and Landry and continuing to make contributions in less visible but still impactful ways.”

Under Schlenk’s guidance, the Hawks drafted two-time All-Star and 2022 All-NBA guard Trae Young, All-Rookie Team selections John Collins and Kevin Huerter and 2021 Rising Star recipient De’Andre Hunter.

“We have a great appreciation for the work Travis has done in guiding our franchise through a quick rebuilding process and shaping us into a playoff contender. He has worked tirelessly from his first day with our organization to move us toward our ultimate goal of becoming a championship franchise,” Ressler said. “With his strong eye for talent, work ethic and knowledge of our team, we are confident that he will serve us well as a trusted advisor.”

Hawks guard Dejounte Murray injury update: ankle sprain

Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, who suffered a left ankle injury during the first quarter of last night’s game at New York, underwent an MRI earlier today in New York. The MRI confirmed a left ankle sprain with associated swelling.

Murray will be out approximately two weeks and his return to play will be updated as appropriate.

Injury updates on Hawks forwards John Collins and De’Andre Hunter

Forward John Collins, who suffered a left ankle injury during the second quarter of last night’s game at Orlando, underwent an MRI today at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex. The MRI confirmed a left ankle sprain with associated joint swelling. Collins will be out at least the next two weeks and his return to play will be updated as appropriate.

Forward De’Andre Hunter, who left last night’s game at Orlando in the first quarter due to right thigh soreness, also underwent an MRI today at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex. The MRI confirmed a right hip flexor strain. Hunter will be out at least one week and his return to play will be updated as appropriate.

Hawks sign De’Andre Hunter to contract extension

The Atlanta Hawks have signed forward De’Andre Hunter to a contract extension, which begins with the 2023-24 season.

Hunter’s Hawks extension is reportedly a four-year, $95 million deal.

In 53 games (52 starts) last season, the 6’7 forward averaged 13.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 29.8 minutes (.442 FG%, .379 3FG%, .765 FT%). He scored 10-or-more points in 41 of his 53 games, including 11 outings of 20-or-more. Hunter hit double digits in 14 straight games from 3/3-3/20, the second-longest such streak of his career.

In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Miami, Hunter poured in a career-best 35 points on 11-21 FGs, adding 11 rebounds, three steals and two assists in 43 minutes. He became the sixth Hawk in playoff history to finish with at least 35 points and 11 rebounds in a postseason contest.

On 11/3 vs. Brooklyn, he recorded 26 points on 10-11 FGs (6-6 3FGs) in 33 minutes, becoming one of seven players in the NBA last season to shoot perfect from deep while connecting on six-or-more triples and one of only five players in franchise history to do so.

During the 2020-21 campaign, Hunter posted 15.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 29.5 minutes (.484 FG%, .326 3FG%, .859 FT%) in 23 games (19 starts) and was selected to the NBA Rising Stars roster. He scored in double digits 18 times, including seven games with 20-or-more points.

In 63 appearances (62 starts) as a rookie in 2019-20, he posted 12.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 32.0 minutes (.410 FG%, .355 3FG%, .764 FT%). Among qualifying NBA rookies, Hunter ranked first in mpg and total minutes (2,018), fifth in FT%, t5th in 3FG%, 6th in rpg, 7th in FG%, t7th in ppg and 12th in apg.

Acquired by the Hawks on July 7, 2019 from the New Orleans Pelicans, Hunter was originally selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft.

Hawks add Jared Rhoden off waivers

The Atlanta Hawks claimed guard Jared Rhoden off waivers, it was announced today. He was waived by Portland on October 12, 2022.

Rhoden appeared in three preseason games with the Trail Blazers this past preseason, averaging 6.7 points and 1.7 rebounds in 13.2 minutes (.625 FG%, .667 3FG%, 1.000 FT%). He also saw action in five NBA 2K23 Summer League contests in Las Vegas (all starts) and three California Classic Summer League games in San Francisco (two starts) this past summer with the Sacramento Kings. In eight total games (seven starts), he averaged 10.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 23.2 minutes (.451 FG%, .308 3FG%, .867 FT%).

Undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft, the 6-6 guard played four years at Seton Hall (2018-22), appearing in 122 games (72 starts), owning collegiate career averages of 10.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 steal in 26.0 minutes (.407 FG%, .312 3FG%, .754 FT%). As a senior, he was named to the 2022 All-BIG EAST First Team, USBWA All-District Team and NABC All-District Second Team. Rhoden left Seton Hall as one of only 12 Pirates to record more than 1,200 points and 600 career rebounds.

Hawks exercise contract options on Onyeka Okongwu and Jalen Johnson

The Atlanta Hawks have exercised the fourth-year (2023-24) contract option on Onyeka Okongwu along with the third-year (2023-24) option on Jalen Johnson.

Entering his third season with the Hawks, Okongwu averaged 8.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 assists in 20.7 minutes in 2021-22 (.690 FG%, .727 FT%), appearing in 48 games (six starts). He scored in double figures 17 times, pulled down 10-or-more rebounds twice and led the team in rebounding five times.

Okongwu’s 1.3 blocks per game marked the fourth-highest average by a second-year Hawks player since at least the 1973-74 season. He recorded at least one block in seven straight games three times, tying Clint Capela (twice) for the longest streak by a Hawk last season. In five games (one start) during the 2022 NBA Playoffs, he put in 5.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in 21.6 minutes (.563 FG%, .800 FT%).

As a rookie in 2020-21, Okongwu averaged 4.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 12.0 minutes, appearing in 50 games (four starts). He scored in double digits seven times, compiled 10-or-more rebounds twice and recorded two double-doubles. In 18 games off the bench during Atlanta’s postseason run to the Eastern Conference Finals, he averaged 2.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 9.2 minutes (.548 FG%, .667 FT%).

Okongwu was selected by the Hawks sixth overall in the 2020 NBA Draft.

In his rookie campaign in 2021-22, Johnson played in 22 games off the bench for Atlanta, averaging 2.4 points and 1.2 rebounds in 5.5 minutes (.537 FG%, .714 FT%), scoring in double figures twice.

He also made 21 starts last season with the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G League and averaged 21.0 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks in 36.2 minutes (.470 FG%, .368 3FG%). He registered 13 double-doubles for the Skyhawks, including a 21-point, 23-rebound performance on 11/21 vs. Delaware. Johnson scored 10-or-more points in 19 of his 21 games with College Park, including two 30-plus point performances.

Johnson was selected 20th overall by Atlanta in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Hawks sign Armoni Brooks

The Atlanta Hawks have signed guard Armoni Brooks.

Brooks appeared in 54 games (11 starts) during the 2021-22 season with Houston (41 games) and Toronto (13 games), tallying 5.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 15.6 minutes. He also appeared in four playoff games with the Raptors. Brooks saw action in two contests with the College Park Skyhawks before earning an NBA Call-Up to Toronto, averaging 17.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 steals and 2.0 blocks in 29.6 minutes (.406 FG%, .444 3FG%).

Undrafted in 2019, the 6-3 guard signed a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets on April 3, 2021, appearing in 20 games (five starts), notching 11.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 26.0 minutes (.406 FG%). He put in a career-high 24 points against the Los Angeles Lakers on May 12, 2021 and pulled down a career-best 10 rebounds against the Utah Jazz on April 21, 2021. In total, Brooks has seen action in 74 games (16 starts) over two NBA seasons, averaging 6.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.4 minutes.

Brooks, who appeared in four preseason games with Atlanta during the 2019-20 campaign, has appeared in 60 NBA G League contests, suiting up for College Park (2019-20, 2021-22) and Rio Grande Valley, affiliate of the Houston Rockets (2020-21). The Round Rock, Texas, native owns NBA G League averages of 12.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 23.6 minutes (.440 FG%, .392 3FG%, .860 FT%).

The 2017-18 American Athletic Conference Sixth Man of the Year, Brooks played collegiately at Houston from 2016-19, appearing in 100 games (40 starts), recording 9.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in 21.8 minutes (.415 FG%, .397 3FG%, .711 FT%). During the 2018-19 season, he was named to the NABC All-District 25 Second Team, the American Second Team, and the American Championship All-Tournament Team.