Category: Atlanta Hawks Blog

Atlanta Hawks blog

Hawks trade for draft rights to Cenk Akyol

The Atlanta Hawks have acquired a Traded Player Exception and the draft rights to Cenk Akyol as part of a trade that sent Mo Williams to the Denver Nuggets, President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer announced today.

The Hawks will have one year from today to utilize the Traded Player Exception.

Akyol, 29, was originally drafted by the Hawks with the 59th overall selection in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft. The 6-6 guard from Turkey currently plays for Acibadi Universitesi Istanbul of the Turkish Basketball League and has appeared in 11 games this season, averaging 6.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.64 assists in 21.4 minutes per game.

Williams, 34, was traded from Cleveland to Atlanta along with Mike Dunleavy and a conditional 2019 first round pick in exchange for Kyle Korver on Jan. 7, 2017. He has appeared in a total of 818 career games (525 starts) over 15 seasons with Milwaukee, Cleveland, Utah, L.A. Clippers, Portland, Minnesota and Charlotte, averaging 13.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 29.2 minutes.

Cavs, Hawks trade Mike Dunleavy, Mo Williams, Kyle Korver

The Atlanta Hawks have acquired a future first-round draft pick along with Mike Dunleavy and Mo Williams from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Kyle Korver, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer.

“We are incredibly grateful to Kyle for his contributions to the Hawks over the last five years,” Budenholzer said. “He is a professional in every sense of the word and played a significant part in establishing our culture and in the success this franchise has seen. This is a difficult decision, but one we felt was in the best interest of the organization.”

Korver, a 2015 Eastern Conference All-Star, played in 332 games in Atlanta (307 starts), averaging 10.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 31.3 minutes (.462 FG%, .452 3FG%, .887 FT%).

The Hawks’ all-time leader in free-throw percentage (.887), Korver is third on the club’s all-time three-pointers made list (818). He hit at least one three-pointer in 311-of-332 games as a Hawk. The 14th-year guard ranks eighth in NBA history with 1,952 career three’s (fifth among active players) and is eighth all-time in three-point percentage (.429). He has hit 100-or-more three’s in 11 seasons, including each of the last six.

Korver set a then-NBA record from 2012-14, making a three-pointer in 127 consecutive games, a streak which ended on 3/6/14, shattering the previous mark of 89 (Dana Barros). He is the only player in NBA history to lead the league in three-point percentage three times, and in 2009-10, established the highest season three-point percentage in NBA history (.536) while with Utah.

In his 15th season, Dunleavy has averaged 11.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 28.1 minutes (.441 FG%, .376 3FG%, .803 FT%) playing in 956 career games (585 starts) with Golden State, Indiana, Milwaukee, Chicago and Cleveland.

Williams, a 13-year veteran, has appeared in 818 career games (525 starts) with Utah, Milwaukee, Cleveland, L.A. Clippers, Utah, Portland, Minnesota and Charlotte, averaging 13.9 points, 4.9 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 29.2 minutes (.434 FG%, .378 3FG%, .871 FT%).

Hawks giving away a 2 Chainz mixtape

The Atlanta Hawks and hip-hop artist 2 Chainz have announced plans to enhance the rapper’s December 30 appearance, revealing two new commemorative retail pieces and a 2 Chainz mixtape specially created for the night.

The first 5,000 guests to enter Philips Arena when the Hawks host the Detroit Pistons will receive a free copy of the exclusive music compilation.

“2 Chainz always makes a splash when he performs at our games, and this season he wants to provide Hawks fans an experience they won’t soon forget as we close 2016 with a bang,” said Hawks CEO Steve Koonin. “The energy and atmosphere will make Philips Arena the only place to be in Atlanta on Friday night.”

To mark the occasion, Chainz and his “CEO Millionaires” clothing line collaborated with the Hawks to create a team-themed hooded sweatshirt, and also developed a t-shirt featuring mascot Harry the Hawk performing the popular “Hit Dem Folks” dance.

Prior to tipoff on Friday, Chainz will continue his month-long campaign to give back to the community when the final round of his fourth annual “T.R.U. 2 Hoops Holiday Basketball Classic” takes place on the Philips Arena floor. The tournament is a two-on-two competition for boys ages 10-13, with no participation fee for students in the Clayton County school system. Preliminary action took place at Chainz’s alma mater, North Clayton High School.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the 8 p.m. contest against the Pistons.

Edy Tavares joins Raptors 905 in D-League

Raptors 905, the NBA Development League affiliate of the Toronto Raptors, announced Saturday they have acquired center Edy Tavares. A second-round pick of the Atlanta Hawks in 2014 (43rd overall), Tavares was waived by the Hawks on October 31.

Tavares, 7-foot-3, 260 pounds, spent the last two seasons in the Hawks organization, dressing in 12 games for the club over two seasons. The native of Maio, Sotavento (Cape Verde) played in one NBA game this season recording two points and one rebound in 3.6 minutes of action.

Tavares owns career NBA D-league averages of 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.3 blocks in 29 games. Last season he split time between three clubs, playing 25 games with Austin, two games with Canton and two games with Bakersfield.

Internationally, Tavares played 60 games with Herbalife Gran Canaria during the 2014-15 season, averaging 8.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks a game. He spent the 2013-14 season with Gran Canaria, as well, averaging 6.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks.

Atlanta Hawks buying a D-League team

The NBA Development League and the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club today announced that the Hawks have acquired the right to own and operate an NBA D-League team that will play in College Park, Ga., beginning with the 2019-20 season.

Additionally, the City of College Park has agreed to construct a 3500-seat arena in which the new franchise will serve as the primary tenant.

With the purchase, the Hawks become the 16th NBA team to own and operate an NBA D-League affiliate, while the NBA D-League grows to 23 teams.

“Today’s an exciting day in the NBA D-League as we welcome the Hawks and the City of College Park to our growing family,” said NBA D-League President Malcolm Turner. “With the addition of the Hawks to our ownership ranks, more than half of NBA teams now own and operate their NBA D-League affiliate – an important step toward our goal of having a 30-team minor league.”

“Securing a D-League team for the Atlanta Hawks was among our top priorities when our ownership group took over the team,” said Tony Ressler, Atlanta Hawks Principal Owner and Chairman. “Coach Bud and Wes Wilcox would agree that having a local D-League franchise will play a significant role in building a championship-caliber team by helping us develop players, like the six now on our roster who have D-League experience. We would like to thank the City of College Park for becoming the host city of what will be another exciting part of our community and the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club.”

The new arena will be built at the Gateway Center, a conglomeration of upscale Marriott hotels and office space surrounding the Georgia International Convention Center, connected to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport via light rail.

The arena is scheduled to be completed by summer 2019.

“We are extremely excited about the Hawks’ D-League team calling the City of College Park its home,” stated Mayor Jack P. Longino. “Our Georgia International Convention Center is a world-class facility and now has a world-class professional sports team. It’s a win for everyone!”

“I would like to thank Mayor Longino for his leadership as we worked toward bringing professional basketball to College Park. We are excited to deliver the Hawks brand of sports and entertainment while building bridges to this thriving community,” Hawks CEO Steve Koonin said.

Six current Hawks have NBA D-League experience, including starters Kent Bazemore and Dennis Schröder, while assistant coaches Darvin Ham and Taylor Jenkins both began their coaching careers on NBA D-League benches. Additionally, Hawks General Manager Wes Wilcox was the inaugural general manager of the NBA D-League’s Canton Charge. Last season, the Hawks assigned three players to the NBA D-League.

Big Jimmy Butler game wasted in loss to Hawks

Here’s the Bulls.com blog with a look at Wednesday’s Bulls-Hawks game:

jimmy butler

Welcoming back to your box of chocolates Chicago Bulls. That’s right, you just never know what you are going to get.

Sure, you’ll generally get good performances from Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade, Butler with 39 points Wednesday and Wade 25 in the Bulls 115-107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

But a Bulls team that was leading the league in number of rebounds and rebounding margin was outrebounded 49-30, outscored 20-9 on second chance points. A Bulls team that was 25th in the league in steals plundered Atlanta for 15 steals, six by Butler and five by Wade. A Bulls team second poorest in the NBA in forcing turnovers harassed Atlanta into 24 turnovers for a whopping 38 points. But a Bulls team allowing opponents some of the best shooting games of the season also couldn’t stop the Hawks, Atlanta with an early 17-point lead, 50.6 percent overall shooting and pulling away down the stretch after the Bulls got within 103-101 with 4:55 remaining in the game.

Hawks sign Ryan Kelly

Hawks sign Ryan Kelly

The Atlanta Hawks have signed forward Ryan Kelly, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer. He is expected to be in uniform for tonight’s game vs. Sacramento.

Kelly, who spent training camp with the Hawks, appeared in six preseason contests.

The 6’10 Kelly spent the last three years with the Los Angeles Lakers after being selected in the second round (48th overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft, averaging 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 20.5 minutes in 147 games (59 starts). A four-year letterman at Duke, Kelly was a member of the Blue Devils’ 2010 NCAA Champion team.

He will wear uniform no. 30.

Hawks waive Jarrett Jack

Hawks waive Jarrett Jack

The Atlanta Hawks have waived guard Jarrett Jack, it was announced today by General Manager Wes Wilcox.

The team roster stands at 17.

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, “The release of the veteran point guard, who has been unable to practice as he returns from torn right knee ligaments, reduced the training-camp roster to 17 players.”

More from the Journal Constitution: “Jack agreed to a one-year, veteran-minimum contract worth $980,431 this summer after the Nets waived the 6-foot-3 guard and his $6.3 million contract in June making him an unrestricted free agent. His guaranteed salary will count against the Hawks’ cap.”