Landry Fields is leaving the San Antonio Spurs for Atlanta’s Assistant GM job

Like clockwork, integral members of the San Antonio Spurs organization are getting hired away. The latest is Austin Spurs assistant GM Landry Fields.

We’ve entered yet another offseason, which means San Antonio Spurs staff members are going to be recruited and hired by opposing teams faster than Paul George decided to ditch the Oklahoma City Thunder. The latest Spurs staffer to be hired for a role elsewhere is Austin Spurs assistant GM Landry Fields, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

During the course of the season, Fields’ presence was integral in putting together a strong foundation for the rising talent in San Antonio’s development team.

Fields, who played five seasons in the NBA, had his career cut short by a string of injuries during his stint with the Toronto Raptors. In 2016, he became a college scout for the San Antonio Spurs, eventually leveraging that move into an assistant GM gig with the Spurs’ G League team. The 32-year-old is set to become one of the league’s youngest assistant GMs.

The Spurs’ blood runs deep throughout NBA front offices. Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce made a name for himself coaching with former Spurs assistant Brett Brown with the Philadelphia 76ers. Fields will also find himself under general manager Travis Schlenk, who rose to prominence with the Golden State Warriors dynasty before taking the Atlanta job in 2019.

Atlanta is hiring San Antonio’s Landry Fields as an assistant GM, sources tell ESPN. Fields was GM of the Spurs’ G-League affiliate in Austin. Fields, 32, played five years in the NBA.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 23, 2020

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It’s become well-known that Golden State carries much of its infrastructure in confluence with the Spurs’ dynasty. Head coach Gregg Popovich spent time in The Bay in between stints with the San Antonio Spurs and eventually, the Warriors hired his protege, Steve Kerr to be the head coach in their pursuit of three NBA titles in four years.

Ultimately, it boils down to this: Snatching talent away from San Antonio’s development system is how most front offices are managing to build their own squads. From an infrastructure standpoint, the Spurs will be fine without Fields. He’s a respected and appreciated member of the team in Austin, but that next-man-up mentality runs deep in this organization both on and off the court.

Fields’ hiring came out of left field considering the other prospects we’ve heard toyed with as of late. Two Spurs assistants — Becky Hammon and Will Hardy — Are in the running for the Indiana Pacers’ head-coaching vacancy, affirming that San Antonio’s development system for executives and coaches is as highly valued as their player development itself.

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Don’t be surprised if Fields isn’t the only Spurs staffer who gets a new job elsewhere this offseason. Best of luck in your new ventures, Landry!