{"id":151925,"date":"2025-07-24T15:31:03","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T19:31:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=151925"},"modified":"2025-07-24T15:31:03","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T19:31:03","slug":"veteran-candidates-hawks-final-roster-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/07\/24\/veteran-candidates-hawks-final-roster-spot\/","title":{"rendered":"2 Veteran Candidates For The Hawks’ Final Roster Spot"},"content":{"rendered":"

Atlanta Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh frequently used the word “optionality<\/a>” this summer in his first press conference. The new front office embodied the Hawks’ flexibility when they acquired Nickeil Alexander-Walker<\/a> via sign-and-trade with a $25.2 million trade exception. Luke Kennard<\/a> also signed his one-year, $11 million deal under the mid-level exception. Perhaps Saleh’s best move came on draft night. The Hawks received a 2026 unprotected first-round pick from the New Orleans Pelicans and still drafted Asa Newell<\/a> after trading down to the 23rd pick<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Atlanta has one more open roster spot before the 2025-26 campaign. Here are two candidates to take the job.<\/p>\n

2 Veteran Candidates For The Hawks’ Final Roster Spot<\/h2>\n

Al Horford Comes Back to Atlanta<\/h3>\n

At 38 years of age, Al Horford<\/a> still played an important role for the Boston Celtics last season. His veteran leadership and three-point shooting can help any team<\/a>. While not the All-Defensive player he once was, he still displays lateral quickness to keep perimeter players in front of him. Horford fine-tuned these skills in Atlanta before signing with Boston in the 2016 offseason. What better way to close out a tremendous career than helping the team that drafted him go from a young, developing group to a championship contender?<\/p>\n

According to Marc Spears, Senior NBA Writer at ESPN, the Hawks showed interest in Horford early in free agency. The veteran big man spends time in his offseason in Atlanta, and four of his five All-Star selections came with the Hawks across nine seasons.<\/p>\n

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Marc Spears on Al Horford:<\/p>\n

"Golden State expected him to sign last week, he didn't. Lakers, Milwaukee, Atlanta I believe are also interested…he's still considering retiring, he's not in any hurry. You know who I think's gonna be in this decision: His 10-year son" pic.twitter.com\/d87NsP3yaQ<\/a><\/p>\n

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) July 14, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n