The Atlanta Hawks have committed a lot of long-term salary to a team that has been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the last two seasons. Now, Hawks ownership has given their new front office a mandate to get out of the luxury tax for the upcoming season.
Atlanta is poised to hit free agency about $5.5 million into the tax. The Hawks only have one open roster spot to fill at the moment and will do so by signing first-round draft pick Kobe Bufkin. That will leave Atlanta a move, or two, shy of dipping under the tax line.
Dejounte Murray is up for a new contract in the summer of 2024. Onyeka Okongwu and Saddiq Bey are both extension-eligible this summer. Re-signing even two of those three key rotation players would likely have the Hawks deep into the tax, unless they are able to shed some salary. For new Hawks GM Landry Fields, that process will apparently start with this offseason.