The Atlanta Hawks have shuffled through a surprising number of bench options over the last half-decade as the franchise continues a frustrating search to build a contender around Trae Young. One of those pieces is current NBA free agent Tony Snell. The veteran forward got off to a nice start for the Hawks before cooling off and leaving the organization with little recourse but to move in a different direction.
Snell left the Hawks after the end of the 2020-21 season, spending limited time with the Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans before again finding himself searching for a landing spot. Not since 2022 has Snell been able to find an NBA destination, forced to settle for overseas deals. According to the latest report, this trend has continued with Snell landing in France in an attempt to keep his career alive.
👀🔥 Tony Snell is set for his first European adventure, signing with newly promoted French club Boulazac Basket Dordogne! pic.twitter.com/fuontbPPug
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) August 23, 2025
Per EuroHoops, the former Hawk will join the Boulazac Basket Dordogne, who play in LNB Pro B, which is the second level in France. It is a solid fit and a great landing spot for the former Hawk to finish his career.
In an increasingly deep league, it is a great decision for a player whose best-case scenario is buried on a team's bench. This does serve as a reminder of why the league should continue to explore expansion. An increasing number of veterans are seeing their careers cut short due to a lack of opportunity.
Former Hawks Forward Tony Snell Forced to Settle for Overseas Deal
For Snell, this has unquestionably been the case with the defender's time with Atlanta, illustrating that there is a fit at the end of the bench. Still, there is no debating the fact that the Hawks have greatly improved since. The 2025-26 season is Atlanta's best opportunity yet to make a deep run.
The losses of Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton to the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers, respectively, have shaken up the Eastern Conference, giving the Hawks a great chance at becoming a surprise contender. As always, the consistent theme for Atlanta will be if its young core can find a way to stay healthy and finally live up to its potential.
The last three seasons have been a clear step forward from the days of Snell leaving the forward no choice but to continue his career in a new landing spot. The veteran continuing to play is a great story, even with the NBA continuing an ongoing theme of turning the page on aging stars.