The Atlanta Hawks made a big move on Tuesday by promoting Peter Dinwiddie to executive vice president of basketball operations. This shift comes right after Bryson Graham left to run the Chicago Bulls’ front office. The team needs fresh leadership now more than ever, and Dinwiddie steps up to fill that void as the top executive under President Onsi Saleh. According to Yahoo Sports, this promotion restores a key role Dinwiddie held before in Philadelphia (where he built a reputation for smart roster construction). The organization is building a stronger structure for the long haul, not just reacting to change. You see, stability matters when you’re trying to turn a franchise around.
While Dinwiddie takes the lead, the Hawks also confirmed the hiring of Tim Bontemps as a strategic advisor. This is Bontemps’ first job in an NBA front office. He joins the staff after eight years at ESPN and time at The Washington Post. Per Yardbarker, Bontemps reports directly to Saleh. This adds a fresh voice to the room. The team is mixing deep experience with new media insights. It’s a bold mix that could pay off on the court.
Deep Roots and Proven Skills
Dinwiddie knows the game from the ground up. He spent 14 seasons with the Indiana Pacers before moving to Philadelphia for five years. He started in group sales in 2006 and worked his way up to vice president of basketball operations. That climb shows he understands every part of the business. When Saleh hired him in June 2025, the general manager called him “one of the most strategic minds in the NBA.” That high praise fits the new title. Dinwiddie now has the same job he had in Philly, but this time he runs the show in Atlanta. He knows the staff and the players. He does not need time to learn the ropes.
The front office is also promoting Maxwell Kupchak to director of cap strategy and player personnel. He moves up from coordinator. This is a smart step for a young team managing big contracts. Kupchak brings a family legacy to the role as the son of former NBA executive Mitch Kupchak. These three hires show a clear plan. The Hawks want people who have done the work before. They want analysts who can spot value and builders who can fix a roster. According to Yahoo Sports, Dinwiddie was the senior vice president of strategy and analytics until this week. Now he is the man making the final calls.
The team is sending a message to the league and the fans. They are building a machine, not just hoping for a good draft. The departure of Graham left a gap, but Dinwiddie is ready to step in. He has seen how different teams operate. He knows what works in the East and what fails. The addition of Bontemps brings a different kind of energy. He spent years covering the league as a reporter. Now he is inside the room making decisions. This mix of old-school ops and new-school media is rare.
Atlanta has a young core that needs a stable hand.
