The Atlanta Hawks finally plugged a massive hole in their front office. Bryson Graham, the senior vice president of basketball operations, left for a bigger role with the Chicago Bulls. Soaring Down South reported that the Hawks operated all summer without him. That void sat empty until Tuesday morning when the team announced a variety of front office adjustments.
Peter Dinwiddie advanced from senior vice president of strategy and analytics to executive vice president of basketball operations. He joined the organization at the same time as Graham in the critical 2025 offseason. Now, Dinwiddie steps up to lead the charge under Onsi Saleh, who is entering his first full season as the lead decision-maker.
This move stabilizes the leadership room right as the roster takes a huge leap forward. The team did not just sit around waiting for Graham to leave. They made bold moves to build a contender. An NBA executive told Hawks Roundtable that the Hawks had a “terrific offseason” for Atlanta. The front office filled out the roster with wings and guards to match the new core.
They signed CJ McCollum to an extension and re-signed Jock Landale. They also acquired Devin Carter, Aaron Wiggins, and Lu Dort in trades. Ryan Nembhard joined from Dallas, and the draft brought in Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor, and Henri Veesaar. That is a lot of new blood for one summer.
Building Around a New Star
The roster overhaul centers on one clear truth: Jalen Johnson is the franchise player. The days of Trae Young leading the charge are over. Johnson had a terrific 2025-26 season that changed the entire narrative for the team. Yahoo Sports noted that he averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game. In 72 games, he tallied 49 double-doubles alongside 13 triple-doubles. Those numbers show he can do it all. The NBA exec told Hawks Roundtable, “Jalen has so much untapped potential.”
The executive went even further with the praise. ” He noted, “Right now, it’s about focusing on getting better individually and collectively.
Why Wings Matter Most
The addition of Aaron Wiggins and Lu Dort solves a specific problem the Hawks faced last year. The NBA exec told Hawks Roundtable, “You can never have enough wings in today’s NBA. That’s why the Dort and Wiggins trades were huge.” Atlanta is expected to start McCollum, Alexander-Walker, Daniels, Johnson, and Okongwu next season. This lineup gives the team length, defense, and shooting. It is a balanced group that fits the modern style of play. The Hawks haven’t won a playoff series since 2021. This new structure gives them a real shot to change that streak.
With Dinwiddie running the basketball operations and Saleh calling the shots, the front office looks solid. They avoided a panic mode after Graham left. Instead, they promoted from within and made smart trades. The focus now shifts to the court. Can Johnson take that final step to become an elite scorer? Can the new wings provide enough defense to stop the top teams in the East? The pieces are on the board. The management is in place. The only thing left is to see if they can execute when the lights are brightest. The 2026-27 season will tell the real story.
