Category: Atlanta Hawks Blog

The Atlanta Hawks today requested waivers on guard/forward Damien Wilkins, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund.

Wilkins has appeared in 13 games off the bench for Atlanta this season, averaging 2.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.7 spg and 0.6 apg (.464 FG%, .636 FT%) in 13.1 mpg. The University of Georgia product was originally signed by the Hawks on December 3, 2010.

The Atlanta Hawks today assigned rookie guard/forward Pape Sy (POP SEE) to the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund.

Sy was the Hawks’ second round pick (53rd overall selection) in the 2010 NBA Draft. He missed the first 18 games of the season due to a low back injury, and has been on the inactive list in the remainder of the games this year. Sy appeared in two games for Atlanta’s summer league squad in Las Vegas, averaging 4.5 ppg, 1.0 rpg and 1.0 apg.

He signed with the Hawks on September 15, 2010.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports:

Hawks guard Joe Johnson will return to the lineup two weeks ahead of schedule after having right elbow surgery. Th efour-time All-Star will start Friday night against Charlotte at Philips Arena.

“The therapy just went great, the swelling’s gone down,” Johnson said. “We’ve just been shooting (with) no pain. It’s just feeling great, so I just didn’t feel like it was necessary to wait another two weeks and leave the guys hanging out there like that when I can really get out there and give ‘em everything I got.”

Johnson had surgery to remove a loose body from his elbow at the beginning of December. He had been expected to be out four to six weeks.

The Atlanta Hawks today signed guard/forward Damien Wilkins to a contract, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund. Per team policy, terms were not disclosed.

Wilkins, 30, played in two preseason games with Memphis this year, averaging 2.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg and 1.0 spg (.400 FG%). He has appeared in 390 regular season NBA games over six seasons with Seattle/Oklahoma City (2004-09) and Minnesota (2009-10), and owns career averages of 7.2  ppg, 2.7 rpg and 1.6 apg (.421 FG%, .333 3FG%, .807 FT%). Wilkins saw action in seven playoff games with Seattle in 2004-05, putting up 5.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg and 1.4 spg (.444 FG%).

The son of former NBA player Gerald Wilkins and nephew of Hawks Hall-of-Famer Dominique Wilkins, he played his first two years of college basketball at North Carolina State (1999-2001), before transferring to Georgia for his final two campaigns (2002-04).

Damien Lamont Wilkins was born January 11, 1980 in Washington, North Carolina. He will wear uniform no. 3.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

The Atlanta Hawks announced this morning that the team has agreed to terms on a multi-year extension with center Al Horford, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Rick Sund.  Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the deal is for five years and $60 million.

“From the moment he arrived in Atlanta, Al has been a large part of our success,” said Sund.  “The winning tradition he brought to the franchise as a rookie out of Florida has extended to three consecutive playoff seasons in a Hawks uniform.  In addition, he was deservedly recognized as an All-Star last year, and we certainly look forward to his continued development as we move forward.”

In his three seasons with the Hawks, Horford has played in 93 percent of his games (229 of 246 regular season contests) and totaled 12.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 blocks in 33 minutes of action (.527 FG%, .753 FT%).  In 81 games a year ago, he turned in career bests in points (14.2 ppg) and rebounds (9.9 rpg), in addition to becoming the first Atlanta draft selection to earn an All-Star berth since Kevin Willis (in 1992).

Eighth in the NBA in field goal percentage, Horford was also among the league’s leaders in rebounding (10th), offensive rebounding (tied for ninth) and blocks (26th).  He recorded a team-leading 39 double-doubles (11th in the NBA) and posted 12 20-point games and a career-high 31 on February 7 at the Los Angeles Clippers.

Having reached the postseason in every one of his three seasons, he has averaged 11.5 points and 8.3 rebounds in 27 games, with a 20/10 performance in his playoff debut (the first Hawk to do so) – 20 points and 10 boards against the Boston Celtics.

The third overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft from the University of Florida, and Horford was the only player unanimously picked to the NBA All-Rookie first team, and he was also runners-up for league Rookie of the Year honors.

The Atlanta Hawks have released Evan Brock, Richard Delk and Ricardo Marsh from the training camp roster, it was announced this afternoon by Executive Vice President and General Manager Rick Sund.  This transaction brings the current roster to 14 players.

Brock and Marsh each participated in four of Atlanta’s five preseason games, with Brock averaging 0.5 points and 2.8 rebounds and Marsh totaling 2.0 points and 1.3 rebounds.  In three contests, Delk scored 3.0 points and grabbed 1.3 boards.

Atlanta, 1-4 this preseason, hosts Miami Thursday night in a nationally-televised game on TNT at 8 p.m., and concludes exhibition action Friday at Charlotte (7 p.m.)

Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports:

After three seasons of increasingly productive play from center Al Horford, the Hawks have decided they want him for the long term.

The feeling is mutual for Horford, who said team officials and his agent, Arn Tellem, have started negotiations on a contract extension.

The Hawks have until Nov. 1 to make a deal with Horford on an extension that begins in 2011-12 and can be lengthened for up to five years and about $82 million under the NBA’s current labor agreement. Horford will make $5.4 million in 2010-11, the final year of his rookie-scale contract…

If the sides don’t reach an agreement by the deadline, Horford would become a restricted free agent next summer if the Hawks extend a one-year, $7.1 million qualifying offer by June 30. The Hawks consequently would retain the right to match any offer sheets signed by Horford.

Share your Hawks opinions on the Atlanta Hawks forum.