The Hawks and Knicks have expressed interest in unrestricted free agent Elton Brand.
The veteran center spent last season with the Hawks. He recently told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he intends to play a 16th NBA season and has been preparing for another year.
Brand, 35, signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Hawks last year. He went on to be the only center on the team to be healthy all season. He averaged 5.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 34.0 minutes in 73 games (15 starts). He started eight straight games in February and March after the Hawks lost Al Horford, Gustavo Ayon and Pero Antic to injury. In those eight games, Brand averaged 32.1 minutes, including a season-high 43 against the Knicks on Feb. 22. He also provided the Hawks with veteran leadership and finished 10th in the NBA’s Teammate of the Year voting.
The Hawks have Horford, Antic and Mike Muscala under contract next season at center. Ayon was not offered a qualifying offer and became an unrestricted free agent. The team selected Walter Tavares in the second round of last week’s NBA Draft but he will likely spend at least another year overseas to continue his development.
In 1,005 career games, the 6-foot-9 Brand averaged 16.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 blocks. The former No. 1 overall pick out of Duke is 88th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 16,661 points and is 21st on the all-time blocks list with 1,795.
Ayon unrestricted: The Hawks did not make a qualifying offer to Ayon, making him an unrestricted free agent. The center would have been due a qualifying offer of at least $1,875,000. He played in just 26 games and averaged 4.3 points and 4.8 rebounds before season-ending right shoulder surgery in February.
As expected, the Hawks extended qualifying offers to Mike Scott and Shelvin Mack, making each a restricted free agent. The Hawks have the right to match any offer they receive from another team.
Deng still on radar: The Hawks did not reach an agreement with any player on the first day of free agency Tuesday. Luol Deng continues to be a target and the team reported reached out to the forward shortly after the 12:01 a.m. start of free agency. Deng has several other suitors.
Trade official: The Hawks finalized the trade that sent Lou Williams and the draft rights to 2013 first-round draft pick Lucas Nogueira to the Raptors for John Salmons and a 2015 second-round draft pick late Monday night.
The deal was agreed upon Sunday night but needed NBA approval. The delay came as the teams negotiated a waiver deadline extension for Salmons, according to a report by Real GM. Per the report, the deadline was extended to July 10. The Hawks intend to waive Salmons with a $1 million buyout.
Williams, from South Gwinnett High School, will be in the final season of a three-year free agent contract he signed with the Hawks. He will make $5.45 million this season. Williams averaged 10.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 60 games (seven starts) last season.
“The trade allows us greater flexibility as we continue to build our team and add players that best fit how we want to continue to grow as a program.” general manager Danny Ferry said in a statement. “Lou has been really good for us. We would like to thank him for his contributions over the past two seasons and the professionalism he displayed on and off the court. We wish him the best going forward.”
