The Atlanta Hawks are gearing up for another inspired run in the upcoming season, with coach Quin Snyder entering his fifth season with the team.

Atlanta will parade a retained core, led by Jalen Johnson, CJ McCollum, Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Onyeka Okongwu. The Hawks added Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins in the offseason.

They also improved their brain trust. On Wednesday, the NBA announced that Snyder added Jason Love, Ettore Messina, and Sergi Oliva to his coaching staff. Love was named an assistant coach, while Messina and Oliva will serve as a consultant and a basketball strategy and development advisor, respectively.

Love spent the last two seasons as assistant coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. Previously, he was with the Philadelphia 76ers for five years.

Messina is reunited with Snyder, who was his deputy at CSKA Moscow. Messina, a legend in Europe, served as a consultant for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2011 to 2012 and as an assistant coach of the San Antonio Spurs from 2014 to 2019.

Oliva is reunited with Snyder as well, having served as the latter's deputy on the Utah Jazz from 2020 to 2022. He spent the last four years as the assistant general manager of the Portland Trail Blazers. He also worked for the 76ers for six years.

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Last season, the Hawks finished with a 46-36 record and advanced to the playoffs. They lost to the New York Knicks in the first round.

In his exit interview, Snyder kept an optimistic view of the Hawks.

“We solidified an identity and built a foundation this year, which is imperative for success in the league,” said the veteran tactician.

The Hawks have not been to the NBA Finals since 1961, when they were still in St. Louis.