Category: NBA Teams

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Some of the best players in Atlanta Hawks history

The Atlanta Hawks are one of the NBA’s oldest franchises, with roots tracing back to the Tri-Cities Blackhawks in 1946. Over the decades, the team has seen numerous ups and downs, but throughout it all, a core group of standout players has helped define the franchise. Here’s a look at some of greatest players ever to wear a Hawks jersey.

1. Dominique Wilkins
Known as “The Human Highlight Film,” Dominique Wilkins is the most iconic player in Hawks history. A nine-time All-Star and one of the most prolific scorers of the 1980s and early ’90s, Wilkins brought both flash and firepower to Atlanta. His high-flying dunks and fearless offensive play made him a fan favorite and solidified his place in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

2. Bob Pettit
Before the team moved to Atlanta, Bob Pettit was the star of the St. Louis Hawks. He remains one of the most dominant power forwards in league history. Pettit was a two-time MVP and led the Hawks to their only NBA championship in 1958. His combination of skill, toughness, and leadership set the foundation for the franchise’s early success.

3. Al Horford
The cornerstone of the Hawks during their resurgence in the late 2000s and early 2010s, Al Horford brought consistent excellence on both ends of the court. A five-time All-Star (four with Atlanta), Horford was known for his versatility, basketball IQ, and professionalism. He was a key figure in the Hawks’ 60-win season in 2014–15.

4. Joe Johnson
“ISO Joe” was the offensive engine for the Hawks during much of the 2000s. A seven-time All-Star (six with Atlanta), Johnson had one of the smoothest scoring arsenals in the league. He led the team to six straight playoff appearances and gave Atlanta its first taste of consistent postseason basketball in years.

5. Dikembe Mutombo
Though his time in Atlanta was relatively short, Dikembe Mutombo made a major impact. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year (two with the Hawks) was a dominant force in the paint. His shot-blocking and rebounding anchored Atlanta’s defense during the late ’90s, and his finger-wagging celebrations became legendary.

6. Lou Hudson
A silky-smooth scorer from the 1960s and ’70s, “Sweet Lou” Hudson was a six-time All-Star with the Hawks. Known for his polished midrange game and clutch shooting, Hudson averaged over 20 points per game for most of his Atlanta career. He remains one of the most underrated scorers in franchise history.

7. Cliff Hagan
Another St. Louis-era star, Cliff Hagan paired with Bob Pettit to form a lethal inside-outside combination. A five-time All-Star and a Hall of Famer, Hagan was instrumental in the Hawks’ success during the 1950s and early ’60s. His versatility and competitiveness left a lasting impression on the franchise.

8. Mookie Blaylock
An elite defender and capable scorer, Mookie Blaylock was the heartbeat of the Hawks in the 1990s. He led the league in steals twice and was named to the All-Defensive Team six times. Blaylock also holds the franchise record for most three-pointers made, showing his value on both ends of the floor.

9. Josh Smith
A polarizing figure but undeniably talented, Josh Smith was a high-flying forward who spent nine seasons with the Hawks. Known for his shot-blocking and athletic dunks, Smith could impact the game in many ways—even if his shot selection sometimes drew criticism. At his best, he was a true two-way force.

10. Trae Young
Still early in his career, Trae Young has already made a huge impact. A two-time All-Star and one of the league’s premier offensive playmakers, Young led Atlanta to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021. With his deep shooting, flashy passing, and fearless attitude, he’s quickly becoming the face of the franchise’s future.

Trail Blazers sign Damian Lillard to multi-year contract

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed guard Damian Lillard to a multi-year contract, Trail Blazers General Manager Joe Cronin announced.

A nine-time All-Star selection and seven-time All-NBA selection, Lillard returns to Portland – where he spent the first 11 seasons of his storied NBA career – after being named an All-Star during each of his two seasons in Milwaukee, appearing in 131 games (all starts) and averaging 24.6 points, 7.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 35.7 minutes per game.

Originally selected No. 6 overall by the Trail Blazers in the 2012 NBA Draft, the Weber State product appeared in 769 regular season games over 11 seasons in Portland, posting averages of 25.2 points (43.9% FG, 37.2% 3-PT, 89.5% FT), 6.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 36.3 minutes per game.

Among all-time franchise leaders, Lillard ranks first in points (19,376), points per game (25.2), 3-pointers made (2,387), free throws made (4,427) and free throw percentage (89.5%), second in field goals made (6,281) and assists (5,151), third in games played (769) and minutes per game (36.3), fourth in assists per game (6.7), and sixth in triple-doubles (3 – tied) and steals (732).

Hawks re-sign Keaton Wallace to two-way contract

The Atlanta Hawks have re-signed guard Keaton Wallace to a two-way contract.

Wallace appeared in 31 games (five starts) for the Hawks during the 2024-25 season, averaging 5.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 16.2 minutes of play. In his five starts, he recorded 13.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 2.2 steals in 34.6 minutes.

The 6-3 guard registered a triple-double of 15 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds, in addition to swiping five steals, in 37 minutes against the Orlando Magic on April 13. He became the first player in franchise history to finish a game with 15+ points, 15+ assists, 10+ rebounds and 5+ steals and one of only two players to do so in the NBA during the 2024-25 season (Josh Giddey).

In 20 games (19 starts) for the College Park Skyhawks during the 2024-25 season, Wallace registered 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.8 steals in 32.6 minutes (.449 FG%, .385 3FG%, .680 FT%). Originally signed by the Hawks to a two-way contact on July 15, 2024, Wallace appeared in four games in four days for the Hawks and Skyhawks this past season, logging over 86 total minutes over those four outings and traveling over 2,200 total miles: Dec. 27 (College Park at Osceola), Dec. 28 (Atlanta vs. Miami), Dec. 29 (Atlanta at Toronto), Dec. 30 (College Park vs. Windy City).

Clippers sign Bradley Beal

The LA Clippers have signed guard Bradley Beal, it was announced by President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank.

“Brad is one of the most talented shooting guards in the NBA. He is a two-way player and an accomplished three-level scorer who brings additional shooting, ballhandling and creation to the team,” said Frank. “Brad had a lot of options this summer, for good reason, and we’re honored he chose the Clippers. We look forward to providing him with all the support he needs to reach the high standards he’s set throughout his decorated career.”

Beal, 32, averaged 17.0 points, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 32.1 minutes in 53 games (38 starts) with Phoenix last season. He shot 49.7% (345-694) from the field, 38.6% (102-264) from three-point range and 80.3% (110-137) from the free throw line.

“Players of this caliber are very rare, and they’re hard to come by,” said Ty Lue, Clippers head coach. “Brad has been an All-Star. He’s been in a race for the scoring title. He’s been the best player on his team. You can put him in so many different spots and he’ll find ways to score: out of pick-and-roll, coming off screens, catch-and-shoot. He can create his own or he can play off the ball. He’s a great cutter. He’s also a great playmaker who is going to make everybody else better. I’m excited he’s with us.”

Timberwolves re-sign Julius Randle

The Minnesota Timberwolves have re-signed forward Julius Randle.

In his first season with the Timberwolves, Randle saw action in 69 games (all starts), averaging 18.7 points on 48.5% shooting, including 34.4% from three, 7.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 32.3 minutes per game. Randle finished the 2024-25 campaign with totals of 1,288 points, 487 rebounds and 323 assists, becoming the first player in franchise history to record 1,200+ points, 400+ rebounds and 300+ assists in his first 69 games with the team. He ended the season with three 30+ point games, 36 20+ point performances, 14 10+ rebound games and 14 double-doubles. Randle finished the final 21 games of the regular season averaging 18.2 points on 52.3% shooting, 6.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 31.7 minutes per game with the Wolves going 17-4 in that span.

Randle led the way for the Timberwolves against the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 17, finishing with a team-high and season-high 35 points on 11-of-20 shooting, including a season-high-tying 5-of-11 from deep and seven assists. In the Nov. 17 game against the Suns, Randle connected on a 25-foot three-pointer as time expired to give the Wolves the victory, marking his first game-winning field goal at the buzzer of his career.

Grizzlies re-sign Santi Aldama

The Memphis Grizzlies have re-signed forward Santi Aldama to a multi-year contract.

Aldama (6-11, 224) appeared in 65 games (16 starts) and set career highs by averaging 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 25.5 minutes while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from 3-point range with the Grizzlies last season. He has increased his scoring, rebounding and assist averages year-over-year in all four seasons since he was acquired by the Grizzlies with the 30th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

The 24-year-old scored at least 20 points 10 times last season, including a career-high 29 points on January 17, 2025, at San Antonio. He also posted single-game career highs with 17 rebounds on November 25, 2024, vs. Portland and 11 assists on March 1, 2025, vs. San Antonio. His 10 double-doubles set a single-season career best, and his six double-doubles off the bench tied the third-most by an NBA reserve last season.

Grizzlies sign Jock Landale

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed center Jock Landale.

Landale (6-11, 255) has appeared in 221 games (11 starts) and has averaged 5.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 12.8 minutes in four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets. He also has competed in eight postseason games for the Suns and Rockets. He played 42 games (three starts) and averaged 4.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 11.9 minutes for Houston last season.

The 29-year-old went unselected in the 2018 NBA Draft following a four-year collegiate career at Saint Mary’s, where he was named the 2017-18 West Coast Conference Player of the Year after leading the conference in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage. He played professionally in Serbia, Lithuania and his native Australia before making his NBA debut with the Spurs during the 2021-22 season.

Landale helped Australia earn bronze, the country’s first Olympic men’s basketball medal, at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He was the team’s second-leading scorer with 12.8 points.

Cavaliers sign front office executives to contract extensions

The Cleveland Cavaliers announced today that President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman and the team’s executive front office have been given multi-year contract extensions through 2030. The extensions also include General Manager Mike Gansey, Assistant General Manager Brandon Weems, Vice President of Basketball Operations/General Counsel Jason Hillman and Vice President of Basketball Strategy and Personnel Jon Nichols.

“Koby Altman has demonstrated that he is the right person to lead this franchise. He is not only an outstanding team-builder, but he has also created an exceptional culture that transcends the basketball side of our business and serves as a positive foundation and philosophy for the entire franchise,” said Cavaliers Chairman, Dan Gilbert. “Koby not only has a great nose for basketball talent, but he has recruited and developed extraordinary front office talent as well. This unique combination has positioned our franchise to compete for championships for years to come. The decision to extend Koby and his team is not solely based on recent success, but rather the entire body of work since he took over the role in 2018.”

Under Altman, the Cavaliers have executed 28 total trades and 15 in-season trades, including the additions of forward De’Andre Hunter at the trade deadline this year and guard Lonzo Ball in a deal with Chicago on July 6. Other transactions that have helped shape the Cavaliers include the trade acquisitions of Jarrett Allen (2021), Donovan Mitchell (2022), Max Strus (2023) and the first-round draft selections of Darius Garland (No. 5 overall in 2019) and Evan Mobley (No. 3 overall in 2021). Over the past three years, the team has secured long-term contract extensions with Garland, Mitchell, Allen, and Mobley.

Grizzlies sign Ty Jerome

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard Ty Jerome to a multi-year contract.

Jerome (6-5, 200) finished third in the NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting last season after averaging a career-high 12.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 19.9 minutes in 70 games (three starts) for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He averaged 11.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in nine playoff games during the Cavaliers’ run to the Eastern Conference Semifinals and scored 28 points (10-15 FG, 5-8 3P) in his postseason debut in Game 1 of the First Round against the Miami Heat.

The 28-year-old shot 51.6 percent from the field and 43.9 percent from 3-point range – both career bests – and made 87.2 percent of his free throw attempts. He ranked fourth in the NBA in 3-point percentage and was the NBA’s only qualifying player during the 2024-25 regular season to post a 50-40-87 shooting split.

76ers forward Paul George undergoes knee surgery

Paul George underwent a successful arthroscopic procedure on his left knee to treat an injury sustained during a recent workout.

The procedure was performed by Dr. Jonathan L. Glashow at the NYU – Langone Sports Medicine Orthopedic Center.

George will now begin a rehabilitation program and his progress will be monitored regularly. He will be re-evaluated prior to the start of training camp.