Ressler said it is a matter of when he will spend more on top free agents and players, not ifNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Hawks Principal Owner & Chair Tony Ressler said top-tier NBA franchises have a "commitment to spend money, if and when appropriate," and while he believes previous Hawks ownership did not convey that to the fan base, the current ownership group is "trying to send that message to everyone and anyone possible," according to a Q&A with Chris Vivlamore of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. Ressler said it is "not a question of if we will spend money and be at the top end of team's paying for great players," it is a "question of when and how." The Hawks will have a lot of cap space available over the next couple offseasons, and Ressler said there is "no confusion" that the idea is to "become a contender." Ressler: "But I've also found is that if you go in too soon in whatever dollars you're willing to spend, and we are willing to spend dollars, but if you go in too soon, then you lose the opportunity you have in front of you." Meanwhile, the Hawks in recent years have renovated State Farm Arena, built a new practice facility and relocated and rebranded their affiliated G League team, and Ressler said it is "critically important to have a G League team and facility that is accessible to the team." He said those elements are "really important for some of the younger players you are trying to develop which is core to having a young team."
LEARNING MOMENT: Ressler also reflected on some missteps he took early in his ownership tenure, such as adding the role of president of basketball operations to then-coach Mike Budenholzer in '15. He said he "learned" that the "function of being head of basketball operations and the function of being head coach are really different." Ressler: "You might say I should have learned that before. The idea of one person doing both, virtually impossible." He said coaches are "programmed, generally to win now, however, whoever they have to go to war with." But Ressler noted most "great GMs and head of basketball operations are, generally and should be, bigger picture thinkers about players and the future as well as the present." Ressler: "Coaches, certainly, as good thinkers and as smart and talented, their job is to be much more short term than medium or long term. It's just a different job." Ressler said it is also "incredibly important" to have a head of basketball operations and head coach that "absolutely work hand in glove." Ressler said "none of that existed" when he took over ownership of the Hawks (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 6/20).
