Atlanta Hawks Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Hawks Hope To Use Draft To Land Franchise Player

December 12th, 2017 at 2:02pm CST by Luke Adams

Acknowledging that the Hawks don’t currently have a “franchise guy” on their roster, general manager Travis Schlenk said today during an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio that the Hawks hope to find a player of that caliber in the draft (hat tip to Amico Hoops). As Schlenk explained, the draft looks like a more reliable source of impact talent for the Hawks than free agency or the trade market.

“It’s hard to get those [franchise players] in trades, obviously,” Schlenk said. “We’re in a climate today in the NBA where superstar players, when they decide they want to be traded, they can really control quite a bit where they’re going to go.

“Also, obviously in free agency, it’s tough to get those guys,” Schlenk continued. “Free agents want to go to a place where they can team up with someone else to try to win a championship. Unfortunately right now, that’s not where we are as an organization, so for us, the best way to get that cornerstone franchise guy is in the draft.”

Schlenk’s comments are hardly groundbreaking, given the moves he made in his first offseason as the team’s GM, not to mention the Hawks’ place in the standings. Atlanta currently has a 6-20 record, tied for the worst mark in the NBA, putting the franchise in an excellent position to nab a top-five pick in the 2018 draft.

[RELATED: 2017/18 NBA Reverse Standings]

Still, Schlenk’s focus on the draft is worth noting, since it was just earlier this year that the Hawks reportedly made a strong push to trade for Paul George. The team struck out on George at last season’s deadline and Schlenk – who was part of a Warriors front office that drafted Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green – took over as Atlanta’s head of basketball operations a few months later.

Atlanta’s offer for PG13 was said to feature several first-round picks, but Schlenk’s approach to the rebuilding process suggests that he has no plans to dip into the team’s stockpile of 2018 and 2019 picks in a trade for a star. Instead, he and the Hawks’ front office is likely doing its homework on a group of top 2018 prospects that includes Luka Doncic, Marvin Bagley III, and DeAndre Ayton, among others.

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Hawks Waive Nicolas Brussino

December 8th, 2017 at 10:10am CST by Luke Adams

10:10am: The Hawks don’t intend to use their newly-opener roster spot right away, but eventually want to convert Tyler Cavanaugh‘s two-way contract into a standard NBA deal, per Michael Cunningham of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter link).

10:03am: The Hawks have opened up a spot on their roster by waiving second-year forward Nicolas Brussino, reports Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link). Atlanta now has a total of 16 players under contract, but only 12 have fully guaranteed NBA salaries — two are on partially guaranteed contracts, and a couple more are on two-way deals.

Brussino, 24, signed with the Mavericks last summer and spent the 2016/17 season with the team, averaging 2.8 PPG and 1.8 RPG in 54 contests (9.6 MPG). Dallas didn’t want to guarantee Brussino’s salary for the 2017/18 campaign, so the club waived him July, at which point he was claimed by the Hawks. He appeared briefly in just four games for Atlanta this season.

Brussino’s minimum salary for this season became guaranteed in the summer, so the Hawks will remain on the hook for that amount, assuming the 6’7″ Argentinian goes unclaimed on waivers. Brussino’s contract also includes a $1,544,951 salary for 2018/19, but that figure is non-guaranteed.

It’s not clear if the Hawks have another roster move on tap after cutting Brussino. If not, they’ll have some flexibility going forward. NBA teams can begin signing players to 10-day contracts next month, so if Atlanta doesn’t fill its open roster spot before then, the club could use the opening to take fliers on multiple young players in the second half.

Marco Belinelli Hopes To Sign Multiyear Deal In 2018

December 8th, 2017 at 8:56am CST by Luke Adams

Hawks sharpshooter Marco Belinelli will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2018, and recently told Massimo Lopes Pegna of La Gazzetta dello Sport (English link via Sportando) that his goal is to sign a two- or three-year contract. Belinelli left the door open for a possible return to Europe down the road, but it would be a surprise if he left the NBA anytime soon — he’s still just 31 years old, and his .393 3PT% will appeal to potential suitors.

Five Notable Players Who Become Trade-Eligible In December

December 5th, 2017 at 11:30am CST by Luke Adams

Nearly every NBA team has at least one or two players who will become trade-eligible this month, starting on December 15. In total, approximately 100 players around the NBA who aren’t currently eligible to be moved will have those restrictions lifted before the end of the month. That’s nearly one quarter of the league’s players.

Those trade restrictions apply to players who recently signed new contracts, so in most cases their teams probably aren’t clamoring to shop them. After all, by mid-December, those players will only have spent about two months of regular-season action on their new deals — even rebuilding teams may want a little more time than that with their recently-signed players to assess whether they’ll be part of the club’s future.

Still, a look through the list of players who will become trade-eligible in December – either on the 15th or later in the month – reveals a few interesting names. Here are some players worth keeping an eye on when their trade restrictions lift:

Nerlens Noel, C (Mavericks): As a player who signed his qualifying offer, Noel would lose his Bird rights if he’s traded, so he has the ability to veto any deal the Mavericks might want to make. Still, the situation in Dallas has turned out to be even more unfavorable for Noel than the one he experienced in Philadelphia, increasing the odds that he’d waive his no-trade clause if the opportunity arose. Noel has averaged just 12.5 minutes per game this season, and with unrestricted free agency looming in 2018, a long-term union with the Mavs no longer appears likely.
Alex Len, C (Suns): Len is in a similar situation to Noel, having settled for signing his qualifying offer after failing to find a suitable multiyear deal. He also has veto rights on any deal, but might be willing to accept a trade to a team that would give him more consistent playing time — his minutes have fluctuated significantly in recent weeks and he expressed frustration after not playing at all in a couple games. Trading Greg Monroe or Tyson Chandler would help clear the Suns’ logjam at center and could save the team more money, but it might be easier to find a deal involving Len and his inexpensive expiring contract.
Derrick Rose, PG (Cavaliers): After accommodating Rose’s recent stint away from the team and working to reintegrate him, the idea of trading the point guard may not appeal to the Cavaliers. But it may be the best move for his career. The Cavs have thrived in Rose’s absence, and with Isaiah Thomas due back soon, it’s no longer clear how the former MVP fits into Cleveland’s rotation. If Rose is satisfied with sitting on the bench and waiting for an opportunity, the Cavs could keep him around, but if he wants to play, a trade may be his best path to consistent minutes.
Amir Johnson, F/C (Sixers): There’s no indication that the Sixers are in any way dissatisfied with Johnson or have any interest in moving him. However, his contract makes him an intriguing trade chip if the Sixers want to make a move before the deadline. At $11MM, Johnson’s salary is an ideal mid-sized amount for potential salary-matching, and because it expires at season’s end, it would be more appealing to a trade partner than Jerryd Bayless‘ deal, which is guaranteed through 2018/19. I’m not expecting Johnson to be moved, but if the team tries to make an impact trade, his name figures to pop up in rumors.
Dewayne Dedmon, C (Hawks): Dedmon, currently sidelined due to a tibia stress reaction, should be healthy and back on the court well before the trade deadline, barring any setbacks. The veteran center had been enjoying a career year before he went down, with 11.1 PPG and 7.8 RPG in a modest 24.4 minutes per contest. The 5-18 Hawks clearly aren’t contenders this season, making them probable sellers at the deadline, and Dedmon could be the club’s most appealing trade piece. He’s not expensive, at $6MM, and if he continues to play well, he’s a good bet to turn down his $6.3MM player option for next season, which means now would be the time for Atlanta to get something for him. His rim-protecting and rebounding ability could make him a nice, lower-risk target for a team that misses out on an impact center like DeAndre Jordan.

Note: Len becomes trade-eligible on December 23, while the other four players listed above become trade-eligible on December 15.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 12/03/17

December 3rd, 2017 at 1:37pm CST by marksuleymanov

Here are Saturday’s G League assignments and recalls from across the NBA:

The Nets have assigned guard Isaiah Whitehead to their affiliate, the Long Island Nets, the team announced in a press release on Sunday. Whitehead has averaged 6.3 PPG, 1.6 RPG and 1.8 APG in eight games with Brooklyn this season.
The Timberwolves have assigned center Justin Patton to their affiliate, the Iowa Wolves, according to the team’s media relations department (via Twitter). The Timberwolves acquired the draft rights to the 20-year-old Patton in the same deal that sent Jimmy Butler to Minnesota, but he has yet to play this season due to surgery on his left foot.
The 76ers have recalled guard Furkan Korkmaz from their affiliate, the Delaware 87ers, per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter). Korkmaz has appeared in five games for the Sixers this season.
The Hawks have recalled forward Nicolas Brussino from their affiliate, the Erie Bayhawks, per Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Twitter). Brussino has appeared in four games for Atlanta this season.

Plumlee Makes First Start For Hawks

December 2nd, 2017 at 5:27pm CST by Arthur Hill

With Dewayne Dedmon and John Collins sidelined by injuries, Miles Plumlee made his first start today since joining the Hawks, notes Michael Cunningham of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Plumlee, who was part of Atlanta’s return from the Hornets in this summer’s Dwight Howard trade, had to overcome a right quad injury last month. He had played just two games for Atlanta before today’s start, which saw him post six points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes.

Rookie power forward Tyler Cavanaugh may also see more playing time in the absence of Dedmon and Collins, Cunningham adds in the same story. The 23-year-old, who signed a two-way deal with the Hawks in early November, is mainly a stretch four, but was used in a lineup today with a point guard and three wings. Cunningham expects that alignment to continue until the front line is at full strength.

Tyler Dorsey Recalled

December 2nd, 2017 at 3:58pm CST by clarkcrum

After being assigned to the Erie BayHawks back on November 26, the Hawks have recalled guard Tyler Dorsey back to the team for this afternoon’s game against the Nets, per an official press release from the team. In seven games with the BayHawks, Dorsey is averaging 17.4 PPG.

Hawks' John Collins To Miss 2-3 Weeks

December 1st, 2017 at 1:43pm CST by Luke Adams

The Hawks will be without rookie big man John Collins for at least a couple weeks, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical, who reports that Collins has a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder. While an MRI revealed no tear, the young center is expected to be sidelined for sidelined for two or three weeks, per Charania.

While Collins’ ailment shouldn’t be a long-term issue, it’s bad news for a Hawks team that’s already missing starting center Dewayne Dedmon and veteran big man Mike Muscala. While Muscala may return soon, Dedmon is expected to be out for three to six weeks, so Atlanta will likely have to lean on bigs like Miles Plumlee and two-way player Tyler Cavanaugh for the first half of December.

Hawks’ Dewayne Dedmon Out For 3-6 Weeks

November 29th, 2017 at 4:58pm CST by Luke Adams

Hawks center Dewayne Dedmon is expected to be sidelined for the next three to six weeks due to a left tibia stress reaction, the team announced today in a press release. That timeline would put Dedmon on track to return in mid- to late-December at the earliest.

Dedmon, 28, inked a two-year, $12.3MM contract with the Hawks back in July. That deal includes a second-year player option worth $6.3MM, so any health issues Dedmon experiences this season could have an impact on whether or not he picks up that option.

So far, Dedmon has been enjoying a career year as the Hawks’ starting center. The former USC standout is playing a career-high 24.4 minutes per game, and his efficiency hasn’t taken a hit as he has assumed that increased role. In 20 games, he has recorded 11.1 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and a .601 FG%.

With Dedmon sidelined, rookie John Collins figures to see more time at center. Miles Plumlee, Ersan Ilyasova, and Luke Babbitt are among the other candidates to receive more minutes in the frontcourt with Mike Muscala still on the shelf as well.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 11/26/17

November 26th, 2017 at 4:56pm CST by Arthur Hill

Here are the G League moves from around the NBA today:

The Grizzlies recalled forwards Jarell Martin and Ivan Rabb from their Memphis Hustle affiliate, the team announced on its website. Martin, who was sent down Saturday, has played 17 games for the Grizzlies and two for the Hustle. Rabb has appeared in six G League games this season and just one in the NBA.
The Cavaliers have recalled Cedi Osman and Ante Zizic from the Canton Charge one day after they were assigned to the G League team. Both played in Saturday’s game against Long Island, with Osman posting 21 points and eight rebounds and Zizic adding 14 points and seven boards.
The Hawks assigned rookie guard Tyler Dorsey to their Erie affiliate, tweets Michael Cunningham of The Journal Constitution. Dorsey has played seven games for Atlanta and is averaging 2.3 points per night.