Editing Atlanta Hawks (section)

===2005–2012: Joe Johnson era===
[[File:Joe Johnson Atlanta Hawks 2008-9 season.jpg|thumb|right|In 2005, the Hawks acquired seven-time [[NBA All-Star]] [[Joe Johnson (basketball)|Joe Johnson]].]]

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Atlanta Hawks.svg|150px|left|thumb|Primary logo (2007–2015).{{ffdc|Atlanta Hawks.svg|log=2016 June 7}}]] -->
In the summer of 2005, the Hawks completed a sign and trade deal with the [[Phoenix Suns]] to acquire [[Joe Johnson (basketball)|Joe Johnson]] in return for [[Boris Diaw]] and two future 1st round picks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/hawks/news/Hawks_Announce_Joe_Johnson_081905.html|title=Hawks Announce Sign And Trade For Joe Johnson|date=August 19, 2005|website=Hawks.com|publisher=NBA Media Ventures LLC|access-date=August 19, 2005|archive-date=March 19, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060319203807/http://www.nba.com/hawks/news/Hawks_Announce_Joe_Johnson_081905.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They also signed [[Zaza Pachulia]] from the [[Milwaukee Bucks]]. These changes occurred after an apparent power struggle between the owners for nearly three weeks before the moves were made.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/hawks/news/Hawks_Ownership_Dispute_Resolved_081905.html|title=Hawks Ownership Dispute Resolved|website=[[NBA.com]]|access-date=June 30, 2015|archive-date=June 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606080847/http://www.nba.com/hawks/news/Hawks_Ownership_Dispute_Resolved_081905.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Despite their league-worst record the previous season, the Hawks only landed the number two pick in the [[2005 NBA draft]] lottery (the first pick went to the [[Milwaukee Bucks]]). With the second pick, the Hawks selected [[Marvin Williams]] of [[North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball|North Carolina]]. In the [[2006 NBA draft|2006 draft]], the Hawks selected former [[Duke Blue Devils men's basketball|Duke]] star [[Shelden Williams]] with the fifth overall pick.

Hope and redemption appeared to be on the horizon for the Hawks beginning in 2007. With the third pick of the NBA draft, they selected [[Al Horford]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/hawks/al-horford-bio|title=Al Horford Bio|date=March 2, 2013|website=Hawks.com|publisher=NBA Media Ventures LLC|access-date=March 2, 2013|archive-date=March 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321030759/http://www.nba.com/hawks/al-horford-bio|url-status=live}}</ref> Horford nearly averaged a double-double during his rookie season, and was the only unanimous selection to the All-Rookie First Team as well as being runner-up for Rookie of the Year honors. The season started with a victory against the [[Dallas Mavericks]] 101–94, sending hope to Hawks fans. The last time they won a season opener was in 1998, also the last time they made the playoffs. For the 2007–08 season, the Atlanta Hawks updated the logos and uniforms that saw navy blue become the primary color, with red relegated to trim color status. This marked the first time in team history that they had used navy blue as one of their colors.

A mid-season trade for point guard [[Mike Bibby]] boosted the Hawks' playoff hopes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/hawks/news/Hawks_Acquire_Bibby_021608.html|title=Hawks Acquire Mike Bibby from Sacramento|date=February 16, 2008|website=Hawks.com|publisher=NBA Media Ventures LLC|access-date=February 16, 2008|archive-date=February 20, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220061523/http://www.nba.com/hawks/news/Hawks_Acquire_Bibby_021608.html|url-status=live}}</ref> At the time of the trade the Hawks were 22–28; afterwards, they won 15 of their last 32 games to finish 37–45. Although they finished with a losing record, they managed to make the playoffs for the first time since [[1999 NBA playoffs|1999]]. In the playoffs the Hawks started to show improvement, pushing the eventual NBA Champions, [[Boston Celtics]], to a [[List of NBA game sevens|Game 7]] before losing in Boston. The Hawks won all three games at Philips Arena, which hosted its first playoff games and earned its first sellout.

[[File:Atlantahawks.png|thumb|left|250px|Uniforms from 2007 to 2015. In 2014, the shorts logo changed to the team's updated "Pac-Man" logo.]]
The 2008–09 season saw the Hawks win 47 games, their first winning season since 1999. With almost an intact lineup from the previous year, the Hawks manage to take a step forward in their development. Again they were pushed to a Game 7 in the first round but capitalized on home-court advantage earning their first playoff series win since 1999 against the [[Miami Heat]]. The Hawks were swept by the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] 4–0 in the Conference Semifinals.

The 2009–10 season saw the Hawks improve further, winning 53 games, their first 50-win season since 1997–98. Al Horford earned his first All-Star selection, and along with Joe Johnson, this marked the first time since 1998 that the Hawks sent two players to the All-Star Game. The playoffs, however, were a reprise from the previous year. They won a hard-fought seven-game series against the [[Milwaukee Bucks]], but they were swept by the [[Orlando Magic]] in the second round, with every game a one-sided contest. After the season, the Hawks dismissed head coach Mike Woodson and was replaced by [[Larry Drew]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 13, 2010 |title=Drew lands first head coaching gig |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=5282105 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629231433/https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=5282105 |archive-date=June 29, 2020 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

The Hawks took a step back in the 2010–11 season, finishing with 44 wins, even though Horford and Johnson were named to the All-Star team. In mid-season the Hawks traded Mike Bibby to the [[Washington Wizards]] for [[Kirk Hinrich]], in hopes of bringing a defensive guard to replace the defensively liable Bibby. The Hawks finished the season losing their final six games. In the playoffs the Hawks beat the Magic in six games; however, they subsequently lost to the [[Chicago Bulls]] in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in six games.

In August 2011, it was announced that California-based businessman [[Alex Meruelo]] was buying a majority stake of the Hawks,<ref name=meruelo>{{cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/basketball/report-atlanta-hawks-philips-arena-sold/moQDGnS3k16haA4hKgLJ7H/|title=Report: Atlanta Hawks, Philips Arena sold|first=George|last=Mathis|work=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|date=August 2, 2011|access-date=August 11, 2011|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818221815/https://www.ajc.com/sports/basketball/report-atlanta-hawks-philips-arena-sold/moQDGnS3k16haA4hKgLJ7H/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/hawks/2011-08-08-hawks-sale-alex-meruelo_n.htm|title=Alex Meruelo has agreement to purchase Atlanta Hawks|agency=Associated Press|work=USA Today|date=August 8, 2011|access-date=August 11, 2011|archive-date=August 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810073500/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/hawks/2011-08-08-hawks-sale-alex-meruelo_n.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> but in November he backed out of his intentions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/hawks/news/Meruelo_Hawks_Agreement.html|title=Hawks and Meruelo Terminate Agreement – THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE ATLANTA HAWKS|website=[[NBA.com]]|access-date=June 30, 2015|archive-date=July 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701144324/http://www.nba.com/hawks/news/Meruelo_Hawks_Agreement.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2011, the Hawks signed [[Tracy McGrady]], [[Jerry Stackhouse]], [[Jason Collins]], [[Vladimir Radmanovic]], [[Jannero Pargo]], and [[Willie Green]]. They also picked up rookies [[Donald Sloan (basketball)|Donald Sloan]] and 27-year-old [[Ivan Johnson (basketball)|Ivan Johnson]]. Sloan was waived a month later.

The Hawks finished the 2011–12 season with the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference with 40 wins,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/standings/2011/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Div.html|title=NBA.com - 2011-2012 Division Standings|website=[[NBA.com]]|access-date=February 4, 2016|archive-date=January 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125155639/http://www.nba.com/standings/2011/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Div.html?|url-status=live}}</ref> clinching the playoffs for the fifth straight season. However, the Hawks would be eliminated in the first round by the [[Boston Celtics]] in six games, ending the Hawks' three-year streak of advancing to the second round.