ATLANTA — Hawks principal proprietor Tony Ressler stated Thursday the workforce will not repeat the “mistake” of complacency that he believes set the stage for this season’s disappointing first-round exit from the playoffs.
Ressler stated the Hawks will not stand pat this offseason — even when which means paying a wage tax.
The Hawks returned a younger core led by Trae Younger and John Collins from the workforce that was eradicated by the Milwaukee Bucks in final season’s Jap Convention finals. Ressler stated he believed the workforce would enhance simply based mostly on expertise.
As an alternative, the Hawks escaped the play-in match with the No. 8 seed earlier than shedding to the Miami Warmth in 5 video games within the opening spherical of the playoffs.
“We thought we might be higher this season,” Ressler stated Thursday. “We plan to get higher this offseason.”
Ressler stated an excessive amount of inventory was positioned on final yr’s stunning postseason run. Normal supervisor Travis Schlenk’s solely vital deal in the course of the season was buying and selling ahead Cam Reddish to the New York Knicks for Kevin Knox, who hardly ever performed, and a protected first-round draft decide.
“I feel in the event you requested our entrance workplace, they might say that we thought based mostly on final season’s go to to the Jap Convention finals that we might carry again predominantly the identical workforce and get higher and anticipate it to be higher,” Ressler stated. “I do not assume that labored out the best way we thought.
“So sure, I feel we should always have tried to get higher slightly than carry again what we had. That will not occur once more, by the best way. It was a mistake, for my part.”
Ressler stated he has “huge confidence” in Schlenk and coach Nate McMillan, whereas including that he, the GM and coach “all underperformed” this season.
Ressler’s frank appraisal is an endorsement of a plan to shake up the roster for subsequent season. It is attainable any participant aside from Younger could possibly be obtainable in a commerce.
Ressler additionally was candid in saying he is open to paying for brand new gamers, even when which means additionally paying a payroll tax. He amended his previous assertion that he’d be open to paying the tax provided that the workforce was a championship contender.
“Going into the tax doesn’t scare us,” Ressler stated.
“Going into the tax shouldn’t be, in my opinion, at the very least, solely attainable if we’re competing for a championship in that season. Our job is to enter a tax when it is good enterprise, to place ourselves for greatness. … We don’t concern spending cash. We absolutely anticipate Atlanta to be a really enticing market for whomever considers enjoying right here. Cash shouldn’t be going to be our impediment.”
The Hawks negotiated extensions for his or her core gamers final offseason, together with a most five-year, $207 million rookie contract extension with Younger; a five-year, $125 million take care of Collins; and a four-year, $65 million extension with Kevin Huerter.
Led by Younger, the Hawks boasted a high-scoring offense however ranked among the many league’s worst defensive groups. Re-signing backup level guard Delon Wright, one of many workforce’s high defenders and an unrestricted free agent, could possibly be a precedence.
Based mostly on Ressler’s name for change, the Hawks might be anticipated to pursue assist elsewhere.
Requested if the workforce wants one other star to affix Younger, Ressler stated, “I feel each workforce within the NBA ought to add a celebrity each time they’ll, and I promise you we’re no exception.”