Mike Dunleavy Jr. will report to the Hawks on Tuesday after a day of uncertainty following his trade to the team this weekend. The guard/forward had until 5 p.m. Monday to report his new team. There were discussions because Dunleavy originally wanted to be bought out of his contract and become a free agent. However, the Hawks were informed Monday afternoon that he would indeed report.
Dunleavy is scheduled to arrive in Atlanta on Tuesday for a physical that will officially complete the trade.
Dunleavy spoke with coach Mike Budenholzer and there were several conversations between the Hawks and Dunleavy’s representative. Following those discussions and his agreement to report, Dunleavy was said to be “excited to play for the Hawks.”
During the hours of uncertainty, the two sides worked through possible resolutions. The Hawks left early Monday afternoon for New York where they play the Nets on Tuesday night. Dunleavy will meet his new teammates on Wednesday and could be available for their next game, at home against the Celtics on Friday.
Budenholzer addressed the situation with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution briefly Monday afternoon before the team departed. “He is not with the team and has until 5 o’clock to report,” was his only statement on the matter.
The Hawks acquired Dunleavy, along with a future first-round draft pick and Mo Williams, from the Cavaliers for Kyle Korver. The deal was largely agreed to on Thursday but the Hawks continued to look for a third team to take Dunleavy. The deal was announced Saturday when another trade partner could not be found.
Following the announcement, Budenholzer said the plan was to bring in Dunleavy.
“We will bring him in,” Budenholzer said with the team in Dallas. “I think he’s got the type of game and a skill set that I think he could be very good playing for us. We’ll just have to see how he is, integrate him, continue to build. He’s a player who we’ve liked, and personally I’ve liked, for a long time. We’ll see how he fits into our mix.”
Dunleavy, 36, is in his 15th season. He has averaged 11.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 28.1 minutes while playing in 956 career games (585 starts) with the Warriors, Pacers, Bucks, Bulls and Cavaliers.
Korver has joined the Cavaliers and the team has completed their side of the trade with a physical. He cannot play or practice with the team until the Hawks side of the deal is done. The hope is Korver can practice with the team in Utah once Dunleavy reports and passes a physical.
In recent precedent concerning the uncertainty, Andrei Kirilenko was traded to the 76ers from the Nets on Dec. 11, 2014 and refused to report. He was suspended by the 76ers on Jan. 9, 2015 and eventually waived on Feb. 21 having never played for the 76ers. Three days later he returned to Russia signed to play with CSKA Moscow. He retired from professional basketball following that season in June.
