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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/13/08
The Hawks put the finishing touches on their roster Wednesday by signing veteran combo guard Ronald "Flip" Murray.
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Murray, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound six-year veteran, finished the 2007-08 season as Indiana's starting point guard.
He played in 23 games with the Pacers, including starting the final 15 games of the season at point guard (the Pacers were 10-5 with him in the first five), averaging 11.0 points and 3.5 assists during that stretch.
"By signing Flip, it provides us with another experienced player who has the ability to play multiple positions for us," Hawks general manager Rick Sund said in a statement released by the team. "Because of his versatility, he will be a valuable asset for us as a reserve, and we look forward to the contributions he'll bring this season."
Murray is familiar with Sund's program, having spent parts of four seasons with Seattle while Sund was the general manager.
"Being with Rick in Seattle certainly gave me some familiarity with him and his program and how he likes to run things," Murray said Wednesday. "But I also looked at what was the best set for me. I looked at the situation with Atlanta and I also had a chance to sit down with [Hawks coach] Mike [Woodson] before anything was done officially and ask him what they were looking for. And he said a combo guard, somebody that can create their own shot. And I felt like that was the perfect fit for me."
Murray has played on five different teams in his six NBA seasons, including stints with the Pacers and Sonics as well as Milwaukee, Cleveland and Detroit, where he was for a season and a half before being released last season and then picked up by the Pacers.
He's averaged 9.3 points, 2.4 assists and 2.0 rebounds in his career and is also a seasoned playoff performer. Murray has played in 29 postseason games with totals of 5.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists.
"Atlanta had a nice taste of it last year against Boston in a series I felt they could have won," Murray said. "But I'm sure those young guys realize now that it's not all fun and games when you get in the playoffs. They got to a certain point in that series but didn't have the experience to get over the hump.
"All that said, there is a lot of talent here. And there are a lot of young guys and lot of depth. But now it's all about [adding guys that have] experience."
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