The Numbers on the Board crew looks back at Atlanta Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh’s moves in the offseason, praising him for acquiring a very valuable unprotected 2026 first-round pick from the New Orleans Pelicans.
View More
Video Transcript
The off-season was last year.
The off-season was last year.
We’re almost a year later.
We’re almost a year later.
We had our opinions about these off-seasons before the season started, and I’m curious to see would we when we re-grade them, did we still love some off-seasons?
We had our opinions about these off-seasons before the season started, and I’m curious to see would we when we re-grade them, did we still love some off-seasons?
Did we hate some off-seasons?
Did we hate some off-seasons?
So we’ll start off with the Atlanta Hawks.
So we’ll start off with the Atlanta Hawks.
Their off-season, ended up losing Clint Capela, Caris LeVert, Terance Mann, Larry Nance.
Their off-season, ended up losing Clint Capela, Caris LeVert, Terance Mann, Larry Nance.
Those are the guys that matter, I guess.
Those are the guys that matter, I guess.
They signed Dejounte Walker to a four-year deal.
They signed Dejounte Walker to a four-year deal.
They got Lou Canard in a, a one-year deal.
They got Lou Canard in a, a one-year deal.
Chris Porzingis was acquired via trade, and they extended Dyson Daniels.
Chris Porzingis was acquired via trade, and they extended Dyson Daniels.
They had such a weird season.
They had such a weird season.
I wa- Grading their off-season, I would put it probably about a B+ and I think a lot of that is coming from the, the Nakil signing, which I think was amazing.
I wa- Grading their off-season, I would put it probably about a B+ and I think a lot of that is coming from the, the Nakil signing, which I think was amazing.
I’m gonna And the reason I grade it so low, because the Atlanta Hawks are doing really well.
I’m gonna And the reason I grade it so low, because the Atlanta Hawks are doing really well.
I don’t think their goal for what they were doing this off-season really planned out well.
I don’t think their goal for what they were doing this off-season really planned out well.
But I think it turned around well when J- like, they traded Trae Young, traded Chris Stops, brought in, you know, they just brought in guys and I think the direction turned out a lot different.
But I think it turned around well when J- like, they traded Trae Young, traded Chris Stops, brought in, you know, they just brought in guys and I think the direction turned out a lot different.
But they are having a successful season.
But they are having a successful season.
I w- I would give it an A based on how well Nakil has played.
I w- I would give it an A based on how well Nakil has played.
I think no one expected him to come in here and have an MIP-type season.
I think no one expected him to come in here and have an MIP-type season.
And, yeah, you traded for, you flipped Chris Stops for Kaminga.
And, yeah, you traded for, you flipped Chris Stops for Kaminga.
I’m not That, that probably doesn’t like include That’s like a part of their off-season but it’s not their full off-season.
I’m not That, that probably doesn’t like include That’s like a part of their off-season but it’s not their full off-season.
but yeah, I enjoyed their off-season.
but yeah, I enjoyed their off-season.
I think they did a really good job.
I think they did a really good job.
Dyson Daniels has kind of improved offensively a little bit.
Dyson Daniels has kind of improved offensively a little bit.
He’s kinda been showing you a lot more flashes offensively this season.
He’s kinda been showing you a lot more flashes offensively this season.
So I think they did a pretty good job.
So I think they did a pretty good job.
I think I’m on the side of Derrick.
I think I’m on the side of Derrick.
I think you can get a good grade without every move you make being a, a home run.
I think you can get a good grade without every move you make being a, a home run.
The one move they made has been a consistent thing for them and has helped them reach a certain level of success even without some of the, the others.
The one move they made has been a consistent thing for them and has helped them reach a certain level of success even without some of the, the others.
And I think that also helped them commit to making a move.
And I think that also helped them commit to making a move.
The Nick Alexander Walker, way that he played I think allowed them to be a little bit more comfortable maybe trading Trae Young and, and allowing Jalen Johnson to be the guy.
The Nick Alexander Walker, way that he played I think allowed them to be a little bit more comfortable maybe trading Trae Young and, and allowing Jalen Johnson to be the guy.
So if that’s what opened up and allowed them to have this success that they’re having, then yeah, it has to be like a B+ or an A.
So if that’s what opened up and allowed them to have this success that they’re having, then yeah, it has to be like a B+ or an A.
So I think we all in, kinda in the same boat there.
So I think we all in, kinda in the same boat there.
I buried the lead, y’all.
I buried the lead, y’all.
‘Cause the biggest off-season acquisition was that Pelicans pick.
‘Cause the biggest off-season acquisition was that Pelicans pick.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, plus that.
Yeah, plus that.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
Plus that.
Plus that.
So then that easily makes it like a A+.
So then that easily makes it like a A+.
I think y’all, y’all are all right, ’cause I think that obviously it didn’t go exactly the way they thought it was.
I think y’all, y’all are all right, ’cause I think that obviously it didn’t go exactly the way they thought it was.
We all were really high on the Trae Young, Porzingis, and Jalen Johnson’s breakout- and it didn’t work that way and they flipped some of those guys for some different things.
We all were really high on the Trae Young, Porzingis, and Jalen Johnson’s breakout- and it didn’t work that way and they flipped some of those guys for some different things.
And I think that they are in an even better spot now.
And I think that they are in an even better spot now.
And they didn’t have their own first-round pick this season, right?
And they didn’t have their own first-round pick this season, right?
So they acquired someone else’s that is gonna be more valuable than their, their.
So they acquired someone else’s that is gonna be more valuable than their, their.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So I think that their off-season grade last year when we talked about it was an A, A+ for all of us.
So I think that their off-season grade last year when we talked about it was an A, A+ for all of us.
I think it probably stays that way but for different reasons.
I think it probably stays that way but for different reasons.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I feel like that’s rare.
I feel like that’s rare.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It’s not like Porzingis was like, oh, he’s healthy and averaging 25.
It’s not like Porzingis was like, oh, he’s healthy and averaging 25.
It’s like no, we, we, not luck, but we were the opportu- opportunistic enough to say yes to Joe Dumars and now we got breakout from all of these dudes.
It’s like no, we, we, not luck, but we were the opportu- opportunistic enough to say yes to Joe Dumars and now we got breakout from all of these dudes.
So that’s a win.
So that’s a win.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Let’s move on to the Cleveland Cavaliers who didn’t do a ton but they traded Isaac Okoro for Lonzo Ball.
Let’s move on to the Cleveland Cavaliers who didn’t do a ton but they traded Isaac Okoro for Lonzo Ball.
They brought back Larry Nance, Thomas Bryant.
They brought back Larry Nance, Thomas Bryant.
They lost Ty Jerome, like I mentioned, Isaac Okoro, and they resigned Sam Merrill on a four-year deal.
They lost Ty Jerome, like I mentioned, Isaac Okoro, and they resigned Sam Merrill on a four-year deal.
this one, it, it’s probably like a D. They didn’t really do much.
this one, it, it’s probably like a D. They didn’t really do much.
and the Lonzo Ball thing didn’t pan out.
and the Lonzo Ball thing didn’t pan out.
I knew he was a potential low-risk, high-reward, and yeah, he ended up He’s not even in the league currently.
I knew he was a potential low-risk, high-reward, and yeah, he ended up He’s not even in the league currently.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
I’ll go C-.
I’ll go C-.
I agree with Derrick.
I agree with Derrick.
The Lonzo Ball thing was supposed to help, but I think Sam Merrill played a really big part for them while some of these guys were getting healthy.
The Lonzo Ball thing was supposed to help, but I think Sam Merrill played a really big part for them while some of these guys were getting healthy.
And so because of that, I’ll boost them up to like a C-.
And so because of that, I’ll boost them up to like a C-.
Yeah, I think C- is probably about the right answer.
Yeah, I think C- is probably about the right answer.
I think alongside Sam Merrill, Thomas Bryant has also been there when they had a lot of their bigs down too, so he’s been important.
I think alongside Sam Merrill, Thomas Bryant has also been there when they had a lot of their bigs down too, so he’s been important.
I’d probably go D, mostly ’cause, I mean, this is not even by, by their own doing, I guess.
I’d probably go D, mostly ’cause, I mean, this is not even by, by their own doing, I guess.
They let Ty, Ty Jerome walk thinking that he was gonna be worth way more than what he e- eventually went for.
They let Ty, Ty Jerome walk thinking that he was gonna be worth way more than what he e- eventually went for.
Obviously he missed like half the season, but he’s been so good since he came back and that is definitely the type of player that they would need.
Obviously he missed like half the season, but he’s been so good since he came back and that is definitely the type of player that they would need.
Obviously they- Yeah eventually went out to sign, you know, to trade for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis to kind of fill that void.
Obviously they- Yeah eventually went out to sign, you know, to trade for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis to kind of fill that void.
But I’m just thinking about, man, that he was so good last season with that team and they let him go for Lonzo who, after a couple games, he was just out of the rotation completely.
But I’m just thinking about, man, that he was so good last season with that team and they let him go for Lonzo who, after a couple games, he was just out of the rotation completely.
And it’s even crazy when you hear Ty Jerome say that he was never offered a contract.
And it’s even crazy when you hear Ty Jerome say that he was never offered a contract.
Like, that’s- I didn’t know that that’s even, that’s even crazier.
Like, that’s- I didn’t know that that’s even, that’s even crazier.
I think he had said something on like Twitter or Instagram in the comments or something- I wonder- that he was never offered so from your perspective, let’s say you are the GM of this team and you know you don’t have a lot of money to offer.
I think he had said something on like Twitter or Instagram in the comments or something- I wonder- that he was never offered so from your perspective, let’s say you are the GM of this team and you know you don’t have a lot of money to offer.
Is it, is it more respectful to not offer anything if you don’t think that you have enough for that person’s value?
Is it, is it more respectful to not offer anything if you don’t think that you have enough for that person’s value?
I think you gotta say- Right like, “This is what we have,” right?
I think you gotta say- Right like, “This is what we have,” right?
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
And you gotta meet it at the middle ground.
And you gotta meet it at the middle ground.
But not giving an offer is a little disrespectful.
But not giving an offer is a little disrespectful.
Yeah, I think you have to give an offer and then he can count- ‘Cause I could see it the other way.
Yeah, I think you have to give an offer and then he can count- ‘Cause I could see it the other way.
Oh, I’m worth 20 and you offer me eight?
Oh, I’m worth 20 and you offer me eight?
That’s hella disrespectful.
That’s hella disrespectful.
Yeah.
Yeah.
But I’m only, I’m only doing that ’cause we have a relationship.
But I’m only, I’m only doing that ’cause we have a relationship.
You’re a player on my team.
You’re a player on my team.
We want you back.
We want you back.
This is what we have.
This is what we have.
If it’s not enough for you, then okay.
If it’s not enough for you, then okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
A little lower.
A little lower.
But to, but to just assume that someb- that you don’t have enough for somebody that’s on your team is kinda mind-boggling to me.
But to, but to just assume that someb- that you don’t have enough for somebody that’s on your team is kinda mind-boggling to me.
‘Cause I’m gonna communicate with somebody who just had a really good year- Mm-hmm a part of a really good team, that we probably wanna bring back.
‘Cause I’m gonna communicate with somebody who just had a really good year- Mm-hmm a part of a really good team, that we probably wanna bring back.
I’m at least tapping in.
I’m at least tapping in.
To just assume feels kinda like somebody that wasn’t on my team.
To just assume feels kinda like somebody that wasn’t on my team.
You never played for the Pierre team and you hit in free agency.
You never played for the Pierre team and you hit in free agency.
Oh, that’s KB.
Oh, that’s KB.
He, he gonna want 25 million.
He, he gonna want 25 million.
Yeah.
Yeah.
But Derrick was just on my team.
But Derrick was just on my team.
I gotta check in somewhat.
I gotta check in somewhat.
I got to.
I got to.
I wonder how much of that playoffs really p- played a part in them not wanting, not offering him a contract, ’cause it wasn’t pretty.
I wonder how much of that playoffs really p- played a part in them not wanting, not offering him a contract, ’cause it wasn’t pretty.
His play- yeah, his playoffs was bad.
His play- yeah, his playoffs was bad.
I- And I wonder if they was like, “Yeah, this is lightning in a bottle.
I- And I wonder if they was like, “Yeah, this is lightning in a bottle.
He won’t be able to replicate that type of season again.”
He won’t be able to replicate that type of season again.”
Yeah, that could’ve been it.
Yeah, that could’ve been it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And if it is, they gotta hold that L ’cause they should’ve known better
And if it is, they gotta hold that L ’cause they should’ve known better