Travis Schlenk has done nothing but nail draft picks and create financial flexibility since being named the general manager in 2016. Now, he has a new title: The President of Basketball Operations. The Hawks announced the decision Monday afternoon.
“We are extremely pleased with the direction that Travis and our entire basketball operations team has us heading as a franchise. He has used the draft to build an impressive young core, hired one of the NBA’s top young coaches in Lloyd Pierce and positioned us to have the cap space, draft picks and financial flexibility needed to have long-term success in the NBA,” Hawks Owner Tony Ressler said.
Before being hired by Atlanta, Schlenk spent 13 years with the Golden State Warriors, rising the ranks to become the Assistant General Manager. He’s known for having a hawks’ eye for talent and has proven that in his short tenure with Atlanta where he has drafted young stars like John Collins, Trae Young, and Kevin Huerter in his first two drafts. Despite winning 29 games last year, The Hawks are considered to have one of the brightest futures in the NBA because of their budding young core. With the additions of rookies Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter, this could be the first time the team makes the playoffs under Schlenk’s rain, which would be quite a turnaround for what was supposed to be a lengthy rebuild.
The Hawks also made several other promotions along with Schlenk. Chelsea Lane was named Vice President of Athletic Performance and Sports Medicine, Dan Martinez to Vice President of Team Operations, Derek Pierce to Vice President of Player Personnel, Dotun Akinwale Jr. to Director of Scouting, Mike McNeive to Director of Player Personnel, Daniel Starkman to Senior Manager of Basketball Operations, Nick Ressler to Manager of Basketball Operations, Paul Jesperson to Assistant Video Coordinator, Chris Mast to Data Scientist, Athletic Performance and Sports Medicine and Connor Smith to Assistant Athletic Trainer – this according to the Hawks PR department.