Category: Atlanta Hawks Blog

Atlanta Hawks blog

Atlanta Hawks sign Lance Stephenson and Malcolm Hill to 10-day contracts

The Atlanta Hawks have signed forward Lance Stephenson and forward Malcolm Hill to 10-day contracts.

Stephenson, 6-6, comes to Atlanta from the Grand Rapids Gold, NBA G League affiliate of the Denver Nuggets, where he appeared in 12 games (all starts), averaging 19.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 35.0 minutes per contest this season (.476 FG%, .306 3FG%, .686 FT%). He is one of only three players in the NBA G League this season to be averaging at least 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists.

The 40th overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers, Stephenson has appeared in 508 NBA games (199 starts) over his nine-year career, owning averages of 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 23.4 minutes (.444 FG%, .315 3FG%, .685 FT%).

Throughout his career, Stephenson has played for the Indiana Pacers (2010-14, 2016-17, 2017-18), Charlotte Hornets (2014-15), Los Angeles Clippers (2015-16), Memphis Grizzlies (2015-16), New Orleans Pelicans (2016-17), Minnesota Timberwolves (2016-17), and Los Angeles Lakers (2018-19). In his most recent NBA season with the Lakers, Stephenson tallied 7.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 16.5 minutes of action (.426 FG%, .371 3FG%, .685 FT%).

The Brooklyn, N.Y. native has seen action in 57 postseason games throughout his NBA career (38 starts), recording 11.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 30.5 minutes (.448 FG%, .330 3FG%, .670 FT%).

Stephenson spent the 2019-20 campaign playing for the Liaoning Dinosaurs of the Chinese Basketball Association, averaging 26.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.1 steals in 34.8 minutes (.522 FG%, .300 3FG%, .778 FT%). He played collegiately at the University of Cincinnati (2009-10), where he was named the Big East Rookie of the Year.

Hill, 6-6, has appeared in 14 games (12 starts) with the Birmingham Squadron, NBA G League affiliate of the New Orleans Pelicans, this season, tallying 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.6 steals in 31.6 minutes per game (.515 FG%, .398 3FG%, .810 FT%). The 220-pound forward poured in a career-high 32 points on 10-16 shooting from the floor, including an 8-11 clip from three-point territory, in addition to eight rebounds and a career-high tying five steals in 38 minutes against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Nov. 26, 2021. Hill is the only player in the NBA G League this season to have at least eight made three-pointers and five steals in a single game.

Hill has seen action in 13 NBA Summer League contests over the course of three summers, having suited up for Oklahoma City (2017), Utah (2018) and New Orleans (2021), recording 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 12.1 minutes (.425 FG%, .400 3FG%, 1.000 FT%).

The Belleville, Ill. native brings five years of international basketball experience to the Hawks, having played in 108 games over those five seasons.

Hill played collegiately at the University of Illinois for four years (2013-17), appearing in 137 games (112 starts), owning career averages of 13.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 28.2 minutes (.433 FG%, .351 3FG%, .795 FT%). Hill is a two-time All-Big Ten Second Team member (2016, 2017).

Stephenson will wear No. 33, while Hill will wear No. 14.

Hawks injury updates on Bogdan Bogdanovic and Cam Reddish

Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, who left during the second quarter of last night’s game vs. New York with an ankle injury, underwent an MRI earlier today at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex. The MRI confirmed a right ankle sprain. Following a period of rest and rehabilitation, his status will be updated in approximately two weeks.

Hawks forward Cam Reddish, who also left last night’s contest vs. New York in the second quarter with a wrist injury, underwent an MRI earlier today at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex, which confirmed a left wrist sprain. His status will be determined by his response to daily treatment.

Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter out with wrist injury that requires surgery

Atlanta Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter suffered a right wrist injury during the Hawks’ game at Golden State on Nov. 8.

An MRI taken at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex revealed a tendon injury that will require surgery.

He is expected to return in approximately eight weeks.

Per the Atlanta Journal Constitution, “this is not Hunter’s first injury that will keep him out long-term, as he struggled with swelling and soreness in his right knee for much of last season, playing in 23 regular-season games. He played in the Hawks’ first-round playoff series vs. the Knicks before undergoing meniscus surgery in June, missing the Eastern Conference semifinals and finals.”

Hawks sign Kevin Huerter to contract extension

The Atlanta Hawks have signed guard Kevin Huerter to a contract extension, which begins with the 2022-23 season.

Per multiple reports, Huerter’s extension is for four years, $65 million.

“It was important to our group to secure Kevin as a part of our team moving forward,” said Hawks President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Travis Schlenk. “He’s developed into a versatile, two-way player who can fit any lineup and can play minutes all over the perimeter. We are excited his future is in Atlanta.”

Per the Atlanta Journal Constitution, “Huerter joins teammates Trae Young, John Collins and Clint Capela in securing contract extensions entering the season as the Hawks maintain even more continuity from the team that won two games in the Eastern Conference finals last year.”

In 69 games (49 starts) last season, the 6’7 guard averaged 11.9 points, 3.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds and a team-best 1.2 steals (tied for 31st in the NBA) in 30.8 minutes (.432 FG%, .363 3FG%, .781 FT%). He scored 10-19 points 39 times and 20-29 seven times, recording three double-doubles. Huerter led the team in total minutes played (2,126), in rebounding once, assists three times, steals 26 times and blocks five times.

More from the Journal Constitution: “Last season, Huerter’s stock rose considerably when he took a leap forward on defense, often asked to guard one of the opposing team’s best players, with two-way wings De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish out injured for much of the year, and guard Bogdan Bogdanovic missing time due to injury, as well.”

In 18 playoff contests in 2021 (10 starts), he put in 11.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 31.0 minutes (.428 FG%, .347 3FG%, .706 FT%). In helping vault the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time in Atlanta franchise history, Huerter finished with a career playoff high 27 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a steal in 40 minutes (10-18 FGs, 2-4 3FGs and 5-7 FTs) in a 103-96 win in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Philadelphia.

He appeared in 56 games (48 starts) in 2019-20, averaging 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 31.4 minutes (.413 FG%, .380 3FG%, .828 FT%), finishing second on the team with 127 3FGM, including two games with six triples. Huerter scored in double figures 35 times, including six games with 20-or-more.

As a rookie in 2018-19, the Maryland product compiled 9.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 27.3 minutes (.419 FG%, .385 3FG%, .732 FT%) in 75 games (59 starting assignments). Among qualifying rookies, he ranked third in 3FG% (36th in the NBA), sixth in apg, 7th in spg, 7th in mpg, 10th in ppg and 12th in rpg. He was named to the 2019 NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

Atlanta selected Huerter in the first round (19th overall) of the 2018 NBA Draft.

Atlanta Hawks exercise contract options on De’Andre Hunter, Cam Reddish and Onyeka Okongwu

The Atlanta Hawks have exercised the fourth-year (2022-23) contract options on De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish along with the third-year (2022-23) option on Onyeka Okongwu.

Also today, the team requested waivers on center Johnny Hamilton and guards DaQuan Jeffries and Ibi Watson.

Entering his third season with the Hawks, Hunter averaged 15.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 29.5 minutes last season (.484 FG%, .326 3FG%, .859 FT%), appearing in 23 games (19 starts). He put in 10-19 points 11 times, 20-29 six times and 30-39 once, leading the club in scoring four times. He was selected to the 2021 NBA Rising Stars roster, comprised of 10 first- and second-year premier young players selected by the league’s assistant coaches. During the Hawks’ first round NBA Playoffs series win over New York, he compiled 10.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 30.4 minutes, playing in and starting five games (.400 FG%, .375 3FG%, .750 FT%). In 86 career regular season games (81 starting assignments), the 6’7 forward is averaging 13.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 31.3 minutes (.430 FG%, .348 3FG%, .799 FT%). He was selected fourth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Also going into his third season, Reddish played in 26 games (21 starts) for Atlanta in 2020-21. He averaged 11.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 28.8 minutes. The 6’8 forward put in 10-19 points 11 times and 20-29 points four times. After missing the final 42 games of the regular season and the first two rounds of the NBA Playoffs due to injury, he returned during the Eastern Conference Finals against Milwaukee, when he tallied 12.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals in 23.0 minutes (.528 FG%, .643 3FG%, .800 FT%) in four contests. In 84 career regular season games, including 55 starts, Reddish is averaging 10.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 27.4 minutes. He was selected 10th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft.

As a rookie in 2020-21, Okongwu averaged 4.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 12.0 minutes, appearing in 50 games (four starts). The 6’9 big man scored 10-19 points six times and 20-29 once, pulling down 10-or-more rebounds twice and recording two double-doubles. In 18 games off the bench during Atlanta’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals, he averaged 2.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 9.2 minutes (.548 FG%, .667 FT%). He was selected sixth overall in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Atlanta Hawks sign guard Ibi Watson

The Atlanta Hawks have signed guard Ibi Watson.

Watson, who played for the Hawks’ summer league team in Las Vegas this past August, spent last season at Dayton, where he averaged 15.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 37.1 minutes (.466 FG%, .416 3FG%, .757 FT%) as a redshirt senior, starting all 24 games. He was named Third Team All-Atlantic 10 after finishing 11th in the conference in ppg, fourth in 3FG%, 3FGM per game (2.6) and mpg.

The 6’5 guard played his final two seasons at Dayton after transferring from Michigan.

In high school, Watson started at at Athens (OH), where he was a teammate of future NFL quarterback Joe Burrow, before completing his career at Pickerington HS.

Born in Atlanta, Watson grew up in Marietta, GA before moving to Ohio in middle school.

Atlanta Hawks waive Jahlil Okafor

The Atlanta Hawks today waived center Jahlil Okafor.

Signed by the Hawks on September 22, 2021, Okafor appeared in two preseason contests with Atlanta. He was on a non-guaranteed contract.

Drafted 3rd overall in the 2015 NBA draft, the 6-foot-10, 270-pound center is just 25 years old, yet has an uncertain future in pro basketball. At this point early in his career, he needs to latch on with any team that might give him minutes and prove that he belongs in the NBA.

Hawks sign DaQuan Jeffries, waive A.J. Lawson

The Atlanta Hawks today signed guard DaQuan Jeffries and waived guard A.J. Lawson.

Jeffries, 6’5, spent last season with the Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets, averaging 4.1 points and 2.3 rebounds in 15.9 minutes (.417 FG%, .875 FT%) in 31 games (five starts). In 44 career contests (five starts) over two seasons, the Tulsa product has averaged 4.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 14.4 minutes (.438 FG%, .857 FT%).

Undrafted in 2019, Jeffries spent time at Oral Roberts and Western Texas before finishing at Tulsa from 2017-19. He is a native of Edmond, OK.

Atlanta Hawks sign Skylar Mays to two-way contract

The Atlanta Hawks have signed guard Skylar Mays to a two-way contract.

Mays, a 6’4 guard, averaged 3.8 points and 1.1 rebounds in 8.2 minutes as a rookie for the Hawks last season (.449 FG%, .350 3FG%, .880 FT%) in 33 contests. He scored in double-figures five times, including Feb. 12 vs. San Antonio, when Mays set a career-high in points (20), adding three assists in 17 minutes (7-10 FGs, 4-5 3FGs, 2-2 FTs). In Atlanta’s final regular season game (May 16 vs. Houston), he finished with 16 points, a career-best seven assists and two blocks in a career-high 27 minutes (7-11 FGs, 2-5 3FGs). Mays also played in seven postseason games, totaling eight points.

In four contests with the Hawks at the 2021 NBA Las Vegas Summer League, he compiled 18.8 points, 3.8 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 28.7 minutes (.463 FG%, .333 3FG%, 16-16 FTs).

Selected by the Hawks in the second round (50th overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft, Mays originally signed a two-way contract with the Hawks on Nov. 24, 2020. As a senior at LSU in 2019-20, he averaged 16.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals in 34.5 minutes, earning first-team All SEC honors. The three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American was the 2020 Academic All-American of the Year. He is a summa cum laude graduate with a degree in kinesiology.