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The Atlanta Hawks just lost some frontcourt depth for the near future.
Hawks forward/center Gustavo Ayon experienced a right shoulder injury during Atlanta’s game last night at Miami. An MRI and examination today by Dr. Michael Bernot at Peachtree Orthopedics in Atlanta revealed inflammation and a strain to the rotator cuff.
Ayon will now undergo a period of rest, treatment and rehabilitation. The expected recovery time is approximately 4-8 weeks and his status will be updated as appropriate.
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The Atlanta Hawks today announced their 2013 training camp roster, which tips off Monday with Media Day activities at 3 p.m. on the Philips Arena practice court. With the additions of Eric Dawson, Royal Ivey, James Johnson, David Lighty, Adonis Thomas and Damien Wilkins, the team currently has a 20-man camp roster.
Dawson played this past season with the Meralco Bolts of the Philippine Basketball Association after seeing action in four games with the San Antonio Spurs in 2011-12. He has also played with the Austin Toros (2007-12) of the NBA Development League. Dawson was a member of the Hawks’ 2013 summer league team, appearing in four games.
Ivey owns averages of 3.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 12.6 minutes (.407 FG%, .362 3FG%, .706 FT%) in 490 games (114 starting assignments) over his nine-year career with Atlanta, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Oklahoma City. He was originally selected by the Hawks in the second round (37th overall) of the 2004 NBA Draft and spent his first three seasons (2004-07) with Atlanta.
A four-year NBA veteran after being a first round draft pick (16th overall) by Chicago in 2009, Johnson has averaged 6.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 blocks in 18.3 minutes (.443 FG%, .678 FT%) in 219 career games (87 starting assignments) with the Bulls, Toronto and Sacramento. Johnson also saw time with the NBA D-League’s Iowa Energy in 2011-12.
Lighty played with JSF Nanterre in France in 2012-13, helping the club to the French Pro A LNB championship, after spending his first professional campaign in Italy (2011-12) with Bennet Cantù and Vanoli Cremona. He averaged 14.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 31.9 minutes in 35 games (.494 FG%, .425 3FG%, .776 FT%) last year.
Thomas, a rookie, played collegiately at Memphis for two seasons, and in 2012-13, averaged 11.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 29.3 minutes (.405 FG%, .752 FT%). In 55 career games (44 starts) as a collegian, he tallied 10.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 27.5 minutes (.426 FG%, .325 3FG%, .745 FT%). The forward most recently played in three games for the Hawks during the 2013 Las Vegas NBA Summer League.
Through nine NBA seasons with Seattle/Oklahoma City, Minnesota, Atlanta, Detroit and Philadelphia, Wilkins has averaged 6.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 19.3 minutes (.427 FG%, .330 3FG%, .783 FT%) in 563 career games (149 starting assignments). The son of former NBA player Gerald Wilkins and nephew of Hawks Hall-of-Famer Dominique Wilkins, he saw action in 52 contests off the bench for the Hawks in 2010-11, recording 3.5 points and 1.7 rebounds in 13.0 minutes (.504 FG%, .714 FT%).
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The entire Atlanta Hawks roster and coaching staff will be tipping-off the 2013-14 season with an open practice on October 5, 2013 at Philips Arena. The event is free to the general public with doors at the CNN entrance opening at 4:00pm for a 5:00pm tip-off.
Open practice will consist of two teams of current Hawks players scrimmaging during three, 12-minute quarters. In-game elements for the day include a Q&A with Coach Budenholzer, play-by-play from the voice of the Hawks, Steve Holman, appearances by Atlanta Hawks cheerleaders and Harry the Hawk, and a 50/50 jackpot raffle benefitting the Atlanta Hawks Foundation.
The Hawks’ open Practice will also be streamed live on Hawks.com.
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The Hawks have extended a non-roster training camp invitation to forward James Johnson.
The agency Priority Sports tweeted the news of a contract earlier this week, but I have confirmed with the Hawks that Johnson received a camp invitation and not a guaranteed deal. He also reportedly had work outs with the Spurs and Jazz.
Johnson (6-foot-9, 248) played last season for the Kings. He averaged 5.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 16.3 minutes in 54 games.
Reported by Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Hawks training camp begins in 11 days – on Oct. 1 – and the team has no timeline on the return of Lou Williams from a torn ACL. According to team officials, Williams is progressing well with his right knee injury. However, he has not yet been given medical clearance by doctors to participate in training camp.
While Williams still could be cleared in time for camp, he most likely will not be ready to immediately assume the role he had last season. It could take a month for him to be at full strength. Williams’ season ended after just 39 games last season when he tore the ACL Jan. 18 against Brooklyn. Such an injury typically takes about nine months to heal.
The shooting guard minutes will be split between Kyle Korver, John Jenkins and DeMarre Carroll but there is room for a fourth player in the rotation.
Reported by Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Blog)
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Add Damien Wilkins to the list of former Hawks who will be in training camp.
Wilkins, who played 52 games for the team during the 2010-11 season, will be a non-roster invite when camp begins Oct. 1.
Wilkins joins former Hawks player Royal Ivey, who agreed to an invitation Wednesday, in camp. Like Ivey, Wilkins played last season with the 76ers. The 6-foot-6 guard/small forward averaged 6.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 18.0 minutes in 61 games, including 21 starts.
Reported by Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The Hawks will begin training camp for the 2013-14 season in October. The first preseason game is Oct. 7 at the Heat.
Lighty, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard, played collegiately at Ohio State from 2006-11. He most recently played professionally for JSF Nanterre in France’s LNB Pro A League.
Dawson, a 6-9 power forward/center, played collegiately at Midwestern State from 2003-07. He has played professionally with the Spurs on two 10-day contracts in 2012.
Reported by Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal Constitution (Blog)
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Ivan Johnson has agreed to a deal to play in China next season, according to his agent.
Johnson, who played the past two seasons with the Hawks, will play for Zhejiang China next season said agent Jeremiah Haylett. It is the same team Eddy Curry played for last season.
Reported by Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal Constitution (Blog)
Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer has apologized for his arrest on a driving under the influence of alcohol charge.
According to a report from the Georgia State Patrol, Budenholzer was pulled over at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday in Atlanta for not having working taillights. Trooper J. Nelms said Budenholzer had bloodshot and watery eyes ”and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath.”
Budenholzer refused a breath test but agreed to a field sobriety test, according to the report. He told Nelms he had only one glass of wine and that he finished the glass about 15 minutes before being pulled over. Nelms said in the report that Budenholzer was ”polite” and that his speech patterns were mumbled, slow and slurred…
Budenholzer, who was released from jail on $1,524 bond, entered a not guilty plea at Atlanta Municipal Court on Thursday, according to Hawkins.
Reported by the Associated Press
The Bakersfield (Calif.) Jam, the Hawks’ NBA Development League affiliate, will hold open tryouts at the Suwanee Sports Academy Oct. 5-6.
The tryout is one of five being held by the Jam nationwide. There will also be camps in Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Salt Lake City in September and October.
There is a $150 pre-registration fee (arriving at Bakersfield Jam offices by Oct. 2; $200 for after the pre-registration deadline and day-of registration).
Reported by Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal Constitution (Blog)