Atlanta Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh frequently used the word “optionality” this summer in his first press conference. The new front office embodied the Hawks’ flexibility when they acquired Nickeil Alexander-Walker via sign-and-trade with a $25.2 million trade exception. Luke Kennard 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 after trading down to the 23rd pick.
Atlanta has one more open roster spot before the 2025-26 campaign. Here are two candidates to take the job.
2 Veteran Candidates For The Hawks’ Final Roster Spot
Al Horford Comes Back to Atlanta
At 38 years of age, Al Horford still played an important role for the Boston Celtics last season. His veteran leadership and three-point shooting can help any team. 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?
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.
Marc Spears on Al Horford:
“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
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) July 14, 2025
Horford would join a center rotation of Kristaps Porziņģis and Onyeka Okongwu. With Porziņģis’ injury concerns, the Hawks must have a reliable, quality third big man. The 39-year-old sat out one game of back-to-back sets last season and will likely do so again to preserve his health. If Atlanta signs Horford, he would not need to play every night. However, when he is on the court, he and Trae Young would form a deadly pick-and-pop duo.
DeAndre Jordan is Another Option
DeAndre Jordan spent the last three seasons with the Denver Nuggets, winning his first championship in his 15th campaign. Now that Denver traded for a solid backup five in Jonas Valančiūnas, Jordan’s role would diminish. While the 37-year-old veteran is not a major contributor at this point, he can still serve as a big-time lob threat and a great leader.
As Nikola Jokić’s backup in Denver, Jordan gave opponents a different look with his athleticism and rim protection. He played more like a “traditional center” than the three-time Most Valuable Player. If the Hawks signed the 17-year veteran, he would play a similar role as a reserve behind Porziņģis and Okongwu. Neither player brings the combination of size, athleticism, and power like Jordan. With playmakers like Young, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, and Kennard to run pick-and-rolls, the big man would find many opportunities to finish strong on the roll.
The Hawks could also keep this roster spot open when next season arrives to determine the biggest area of need. Regardless, this is their deepest squad since making the 2020-21 Eastern Conference Finals.
© Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
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