Hawks sign Jaylen Morris to second 10-day contract

The Atlanta Hawks today signed guard Jaylen Morris to a second 10-day contract.

In five games with the Hawks, he’s averaging 4.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.5 minutes.

Morris has also started 39 games this season for the Erie BayHawks, Atlanta’s NBA G League affiliate, and has averaged 12.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals in 31.4 minutes (.517 FG%, .673 FT%).

Hawks sign Antonius Cleveland to second 10-day contract

The Hawks signed guard Antonius Cleveland to a second 10-day contract today.

Earlier this season, Cleveland was on a two-way contract with Dallas, appearing in 13 games with the Mavericks. In seven NBA G League games this season (six with the Santa Cruz Warriors and one with the Texas Legends), he’s averaged 13.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 steals in 26.6 minutes (.547 FG%, .500 3FG%, .826 FT%).

Hawks waive Ersan Ilyasova (buyout agreement)

The Atlanta Hawks, after reaching an agreement on a buyout, today requested waivers on forward Ersan Ilyasova.

According to Yahoo Sports, “Ilyasova and the Hawks had been discussing a buyout over the past several days, and Atlanta was eager to allow Ilyasova to join a playoff team and contend down the stretch of the season. Ilyasova considered several opportunities with playoff teams, including Philadelphia, Golden State, Cleveland, Milwaukee and Toronto.”

In 46 games this season (40 starts), Ilyasova has averaged 10.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 25.6 minutes (.459 FG%, .359 3FG%, .800 FT%).

In 655 career contests (405 starts), he’s put up 11.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 24.5 minutes (.443 FG%, .366 3FG%, .772 FT%).

Ilyasova re-signed with the Hawks on July 21, 2017 after originally being acquired by Atlanta from the Philadelphia 76ers on February 22, 2017.

Hawks sign Antonius Cleveland to 10-day contract

The Atlanta Hawks today signed guard Antonius Cleveland to a 10-day contract.

Earlier this season, Cleveland was on a two-way contract with Dallas, appearing in 13 games with the Mavericks. In seven NBA G League games this season (six with the Austin Spurs and one with the Texas Legends), he’s averaged 13.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 steals in 26.6 minutes (.547 FG%, .500 3FG%, .826 FT%).

Cleveland played four years at Southeast Missouri State (2013-17) and in 33 starts as a senior, put in 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 steals in 32.9 minutes. He finished his high school career at Faith Baptist Christian Academy in Ludowici, GA after beginning at Overton High School in his hometown of Memphis, TN.

He will wear jersey No. 0.

Hawks waive Marco Belinelli

The Atlanta Hawks waived guard/forward Marco Belinelli today.

Belinelli, in 52 games with the Hawks (one start) this season, averaged 11.4 points, 2.0 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 23.3 minutes (.410 FG%, .372 3FG%, .927 FT%), ranking fourth in the NBA in free throw percentage. He scored in double-figures 30 times (five 20-point outings).

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, “the Hawks held Belinelli, the veteran reserve shooting guard, out of Tuesday’s game against the Grizzlies and he did not travel with the team for Thursday’s game at the Magic as the team considered several trade options ahead of the NBA trade deadline.”

In 696 career contests (217 starts), he’s put up 9.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 23.1 minutes (.423 FG%, .377 3FG%, .840 FT%).

Belinelli was originally acquired from Charlotte on June 20, 2017 along with Miles Plumlee and a 2017 second round draft pick in exchange for Dwight Howard and a 2017 second round draft pick.

Wizards trade Sheldon Mac to Hawks

The Washington Wizards announced today that they have traded guard/forward Sheldon Mac to Atlanta for a protected 2019 second round pick.

Mac, who underwent surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon in October, has not appeared in a game this season. He averaged 3.0 points and 1.1 rebounds in 30 games for the Wizards last season after signing as an undrafted free agent.

Hawks trade Luke Babbitt to Heat for Okaro White, who was then waived

The Miami Heat have traded Okaro White to the Atlanta Hawks for Luke Babbitt.

Babbitt, who was originally acquired by the HEAT on July 10, 2016, has appeared in 37 games (nine starts) with the Hawks this season averaging 6.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 15.4 minutes while shooting 47.6 percent from the field, 44.1 percent from three-point range and 77.3 percent from the foul line. He led Atlanta in three-point field goal percentage (minimum 50 attempts) and shot at least 50 percent from beyond the arc in 17 games this season. In his lone season in Miami during the 2016-17 campaign, he made a single-season career-high 87 three-point field goals and hit multiple treys in a game 23 times, also a single-season career best.

Babbitt has appeared in 368 career NBA regular season games (102 starts) during his eight-year career averaging 4.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 14.1 minutes while shooting 41.3 percent from the floor, 41 percent from three-point range and 74.7 percent from the foul line. Including this season, Babbitt has shot at least 40 percent from downtown in four consecutive seasons.

White, who was originally signed by the HEAT as a free agent on July 15, 2016, has appeared in 41 career games with Miami (four starts) averaging 2.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in 13.4 minutes while shooting 38.8 percent from the field. He appeared in six games with the HEAT this season before having surgery on November 16 to repair a fifth metatarsal fracture in his left foot.

UPDATE: The Atlanta Hawks, after the above trade, requested waivers on forward Okaro White.

Hawks sign Andrew White III to two-way contract

The Atlanta Hawks have signed forward Andrew White III to a two-way contract. He will immediately join the team’s G League squad, the Erie BayHawks.

White III has played in 24 games (21 starts) this season for the Maine Red Claws of the NBA G League, averaging 16.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 34.0 minutes (.435 FG%, .400 3FG%, .855).

The rookie played five games at the MGM Resorts NBA Summer League with the Cleveland Cavaliers and spent training camp with the Boston Celtics, appearing in one preseason contest.

As a graduate student at Syracuse last season, White III put up a team-best 18.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.1 assists in 37.2 minutes (.440 FG%, .401 3FG%, .837 FT%), starting all 34 games. He set a Syracuse single-season record with 109 three-pointers. White III was an All-ACC third team selection, and a member of the All-ACC Academic team.

In his senior season at Nebraska in 2015-16, he averaged 16.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 29.7 minutes (.481 FG%, .412 3FG%, .775 FT%) in 34 starts. He sat out his junior season after transferring from Kansas, where he played two years, appearing in 25 contests as a freshman and 19 games as a sophomore.

His father, Andrew Jr., played basketball at Morehouse College, while his younger brother, Andrien, plays collegiately at Charlotte. The Richmond, VA native will wear No. 4 with the Hawks.

The 2017-18 season marks the first year of two-way contracts in the NBA. Only players with three-or-fewer years of NBA experience are permitted to sign two-way contracts. Per league rules, teams are allowed to have up to two two-way players on their roster at any given time, in addition to their 15-man regular season roster. A two-way player for the Hawks will primarily play for the BayHawks but can spend up to 45 days with Atlanta (prorated based on when the player signs), not including any time prior to the start of Erie’s training camp and at the conclusion of their season.

Hawks sign Tyler Cavanaugh to two-way contract

The Atlanta Hawks have signed Tyler Cavanaugh to a two-way contract.

Cavanaugh has played in one game this season for the Erie BayHawks, Atlanta’s G League affiliate, compiling 19 points, 11 rebounds, one block and one steal in 35 minutes (8-13 FGs, 3-5 3FGs). He was also a member of the Hawks’ Summer League team, competing in Las Vegas this past July. He originally signed with the Hawks on September 6, 2017, appeared in four preseason contests, and was waived on October 13, 2017.

He spent his first two college seasons at Wake Forest before transferring to George Washington. As a graduate student at GW last season, he appeared in 35 games (all starts), leading the team in points (18.3), rebounds (8.4), free throws made (173) and attempted (204) in 32.2 minutes (.448 FG%, .409 3FG%, .848 FT%). He was named to the A-10 All-Conference Second Team and the All-Academic Team. The 6’9 Cavanaugh started 38 games in 2015-16 and put in 16.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 30.4 minutes (.505 FG%, .417 3FG%, .827 FT%), leading the Colonials to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) title, earning Most Outstanding Player honors. He averaged 8.8 points and 3.8 rebounds in 21.2 minutes in 33 games as a sophomore at Wake Forest, and tallied 5.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 16.7 minutes as a freshman in 31 contests. The Syracuse, NY native will wear No. 34.

The 2017-18 season marks the first year of two-way contracts in the NBA. Only players with four-or-fewer years of NBA experience are permitted to sign two-way contracts. Per league rules, teams are allowed to have up to two two-way players on their roster at any given time, in addition to their 15-man regular season roster. A two-way player for the Hawks will primarily play for the BayHawks but can spend up to 45 days with Atlanta, not including any time prior to the start of Erie’s training camp and at the conclusion of their season.