Hawks secure Onsi Saleh’s long-term future after Executive of the Year runner-up

The Atlanta Hawks are currently in the early stages of an important offseason for the future of the franchise, with executive Onsi Saleh recently having finished as a runner-up for NBA Executive of the Year. Now, Saleh has been rewarded for his work with the team with a new deal to keep him around long-term.

“The Atlanta Hawks are signing general manager Onsi Saleh to a long-term contract extension and promoting him to President of Basketball Operations, sources tell ESPN,” reported Shams Charania of ESPN on X, formerly Twitter. “Saleh – runner up for 2026 league executive of the year – took over as Hawks GM last offseason after joining Atlanta in 2024 following executive stints in Golden State and San Antonio.”

Among Saleh’s moves were acquiring 2024-25 Most Improved Player Dyson Daniels in a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, signing this year’s winner of the award Nickeil Alexander-Walker in free agency, signing young cornerstone Jalen Johnson to a very team-friendly deal, and orchestrating the Trae Young trade that helped Atlanta turn around its season midway through last year.

Although they were absolutely obliterated in Game 6 of the first round, the Hawks emerged as the only team to get even one game, let alone two, off the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference side of the bracket, and they have plenty of flexibility this summer to continue to add to this emerging young core.

Saleh will now have increased power with his new promotion and figures to be a key part of Atlanta’s future plans.

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