Atlanta's decision to fire GM Landry Fields and spare head coach Quin Snyder is a bit of a surprising one. It was expected that the team would part ways with Fields, considering the biggest moves to date were the extension of De'Andre Hunter and the trade to acquire Dejounte Murray. Two tough moves to sell with what followed for both players.
Fields is now out, and it appears the Hawks will attempt to sell the franchise as one that is turning the corner. However, it is fair to be hesitant about whether or not Quin Snyder should have remained in Atlanta.
Yes, the Hawks lacked bench depth and needed a second scorer behind Trae Young. Even without the injuries, the team had glaring weaknesses that can be blamed on the front office. Yet so often against struggling teams in the 2024-25 season, the Hawks came out flat. Snyder's lack of adjustments was concerning, and nowhere was this more glaring than in the NBA play-in. Two games to extend your season, and Snyder had zero answers.
Quin Snyder Remains on the Hot Seat Amid an Underwhelming Tenure
Since joining the Hawks, Snyder has led the team to three frustrating finishes, and not all of that can be on roster construction. While a great deal of the blame lies at the feet of the front office, Snyder isn't off the hook. If anything, being retained speaks to the coach having the respect of the players, not his own personal accomplishments.
Consider how many accomplished NBA coaches have been fired in the past three seasons, with far more impressive seasons. The Nuggets' firing of Malone or the Kings' firing of Mike Brown serve as the latest examples. Snyder's seat should be in flames, with the team continuing to evaluate his future and making a change if it were to help them retain Trae Young or land a secondary scorer.
With the past three seasons of failure, every option has to be on the table for the Hawks. If you're not tanking for a chance at the top pick, you have no business losing the way Atlanta did this season. Dallas, which traded Luka Doncic midseason, and a Miami Heat team that imploded and lost Jimmy Butler, both made it further than Atlanta. This alone should have the team looking carefully at the head coach position and evaluating whether they would be better served to move on from Snyder as well.