Hawks power forward Mike Scott has yet to make his regular-season debut in 2016/17 due to a knee issue, and that injury is expected to sideline him for most or all of November as well. The Hawks announced today in a press release that Scott will miss approximately four weeks as he undergoes a series of “non-surgical procedures” to address his left knee soreness.
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Scott, 28, has been with the Hawks since 2012, providing the team with regular minutes off the bench as a power forward who can stretch the floor. Although he only averaged 6.2 PPG and 2.7 RPG in 2015/16, he shot a career-best 39.2% from three-point range.
Scott’s diagnosis brings the Hawks’ decision to sign Ryan Kelly into sharper focus. Kelly, who was with the team in camp, brings a somewhat similar skill set, and he’s capable of stepping in and playing off the bench in the short term. It remains to be seen what sort of guarantees are included on Kelly’s contract — if he signed a non-guaranteed deal, and Scott returns to the team in late November or December, the Hawks could part ways with Kelly again before the salary guarantee deadline of January 10.