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The Atlanta Hawks have assigned rookie forward/center Adreian Payne to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Head Coach Mike Budenholzer. He was Atlanta’s first-round pick (15th overall) in 2014.
The Mad Ants’ next two games are Friday and Saturday night at Erie.
Here’s the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporting on a roster decision made by the Atlanta Hawks:
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The Hawks declined to exercise the fourth-year team option on former first-round pick John Jenkins. The shooting guard who have been due $2,228,025 for the 2015-16 season but now becomes an unrestricted free agent following this season.
The team exercised the third-year option on Dennis Schroder. The point guard will make $1,763,400 next season.
Jenkins, who was selected with the 23rd overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft out of Vanderbilt, has been slowed by injury during his Hawks career. He averaged 6.1 points in 14.8 minutes as a rookie in 74 games. However, last season was an injury plagued year for the shooting guard. He missed substantial time that summer and training camp with a back injury. The 23-year old appeared in only 13 games last season when the injury re-occurred and eventually required season-ending surgery in February.
The Atlanta Hawks have waived Jarell Eddie and Dexter Pittman, it was announced today by Head Coach Mike Budenholzer.
The Hawks’ roster stands at 15, the league maximum for the regular season, which begins in one week.
Here’s the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporting on a Hawks development that a lot of old-school fans will appreciate:
The team’s new secondary logo, a revision of the old Pac Man look, is now dominant at center court. The large white-and-red logo replaces the primary logo that had been the centerpiece of the court. The new secondary logo has been popular with the fan base and its use will likely grow in the future. It will eventually replace the current primary logo of the Hawk with spread wings.
“I was pretty excited to see it,” Al Horford said of the new logo at center court. “It’s pretty powerful. I like it.”
The court underwent several other revisions. The free-throw lanes have been painted bright red. The apron surrounding the court is blue. The apron displays “Atlanta Hawks” painted in white block-style letters with red trim along both baselines. The team web site address and Twitter and Instagram handles are painted along the baselines opposite the team benches.
Here’s the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporting on one of the most popular Hawks of all time:
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Dominique Wilkins will get his statue.
The Basketball Hall of Famer and Hawks legend will have a statue of his likeness erected outside Philips Arena next year.
A group has contracted Hall of Fame sculptor Brian Hanlon to do the art work many believe long over due. Hanlon worked with Wilkins when he created the bust for his 2006 enshrinement. The sculpture will be unveiled on March 6, the day the Hawks host LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
“The first thing that comes to mind is that it immortalizes you,” Wilkins told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tuesday. “There is no better feeling in the world to know that you will be recognized for the rest of your life and even after you are gone it’s still going to be there.”
The Atlanta Hawks finished last season with a 38-44 record. Enjoy this video showcasing their best plays of the season:
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The Atlanta Hawks have re-signed forward Mike Scott, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Danny Ferry.
“Mike has worked hard and continues to adapt, improve and expand his all around game,” Ferry said. “We are very happy to have him with us going forward and we look forward to his continued growth with our group.”
Atlanta’s second-round pick (43rd overall) in the 2012 NBA Draft, Scott played in 80 games (six starts) for the Hawks last season, averaging 9.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in 18.5 minutes (.479 FG%, .780 FT%). He knocked down 62 three-pointers after going 0-1 from downtown in his rookie season. Scott scored in double figures 40 times (five 20-point games including one 30-point night), leading the team in scoring nine times. In his six starts, he put up 14.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 32.5 minutes. He hit double digits in 13 straight games from 1/8-2/5, the longest stretch of his career.
In Atlanta’s 2014 first-round playoff series against Indiana, Scott compiled 9.4 points and 2.6 rebounds in 20.9 minutes, including a 17-point second quarter (6-6 FGs, 5-5 3FGs – the second-most three’s in a quarter in NBA playoff history) in Game 5 (4/28/14).
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The Atlanta Hawks have re-signed guard Shelvin Mack, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Danny Ferry.
“Shelvin has proven himself to be an excellent fit in our program,” Ferry said. “On the court, he plays well within our system and possesses a toughness and level of unselfishness that we truly value,” Ferry said. “At 24, he is still a young player with the type of work ethic that can allow him to continue to keep getting better.”
In 73 games for the Hawks last season (11 starts), Mack averaged 7.5 points, 3.7 assists (second on the team) and 2.2 rebounds in 20.4 minutes while ranking seventh in the NBA in assist/turnover ratio (3.04). He scored in double-figures 22 times (one 20-plus effort) and had one double-double, leading the team in assists 14 times and in scoring once. Mack averaged season career-highs in points, rebounds and assists, while reaching career-bests in FT% (.865) and games played. In his starting assignments, he compiled 10.5 points, 4.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 30.4 minutes.
In three NBA seasons with Washington, Philadelphia and the Hawks, Mack has played in 168 games (with 14 starts), averaging 5.5 points, 2.8 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 16.0 minutes. He’s also appeared in 11 postseason games with the Hawks, putting in 6.1 points, 2.9 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 12.7 minutes.
The Atlanta Hawks today announced the seven-game 2014 preseason schedule, which includes contests at Philips Arena against the New Orleans Pelicans, Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets.
The Hawks play host to the Pelicans on Monday, Oct. 6 (7:30 p.m.), the Pistons on Saturday, Oct. 18 (7:30 p.m.) and the Hornets on Monday, Oct. 20 (7:30 p.m.).
Atlanta will take to the road for four games during exhibition play – Saturday, Oct. 11 at Memphis (8 p.m.), Tuesday, Oct. 14 at Miami (7:30 p.m.), Thursday, Oct. 16 at Chicago (8 p.m.) and Wednesday, Oct. 22 at San Antonio (8:30 p.m.).
The games against the Heat, Bulls and Spurs will be broadcast live on the Hawks flagship radio station, SportsRadio 92.9 The Game, with the Voice of the Hawks Steve Holman announcing the action.
2014 HAWKS PRESEASON SCHEDULE (all times ET)
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME (ET)
Monday, Oct. 6 NEW ORLEANS Atlanta, GA (Philips Arena) 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Memphis Memphis, TN (FedEx Forum) 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 14 at Miami Miami, FL (American Airlines Arena)
Thursday, Oct. 16 at Chicago Chicago, IL (United Center)
Saturday, Oct. 18 DETROIT Atlanta, GA (Philips Arena) 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 20 CHARLOTTE Atlanta, GA (Philips Arena) 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 22 at San Antonio San Antonio, TX (AT&T Center)
The Atlanta Hawks have added Charles Lee and Ben Sullivan to the coaching staff, it was announced today by Head Coach Mike Budenholzer.
“Charles and Ben bring unique skills and abilities to our staff. Both have strong backgrounds in player development that will complement our emphasis on internal team improvement,” Budenholzer said. “We feel very fortunate to add them and are excited to see how they positively impact our group.”
Lee, who spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Bucknell, was the 2006 Patriot League Player of the Year for the Bisons and ranks 22nd on the school’s all-time scoring list. After graduating with a degree in business management, the Gaithersburg, MD native played professionally in Israel, Belgium and Germany.
Sullivan most recently worked in basketball development and as an assistant video coordinator with the San Antonio Spurs. He played collegiately at Cal-State Northridge and University of Portland, competing professionally in China, Germany and Chile following graduation. Sullivan joined University of Portland’s coaching staff in 2009, then was an assistant coach at Lewis & Clark College in Portland before joining the Spurs.
Lee and Sullivan join Kenny Atkinson, Darvin Ham, Taylor Jenkins and Neven Spahija on Budenholzer’s staff. Additionally, Jim Thomas, a member of the coaching staff in 2013-14, has been moved into a front office role as a scout, a position he previously served in with Oklahoma City, New York and Toronto.