Since the start of training camp, the Hawks' veterans have wondered if the team has enough experienced depth to navigate what will be a grueling 66-game schedule.
The Hawks made a move to alleviate some of those concerns Tuesday when they signed free agent guard Jannero Pargo.
Pargo, who has played in 378 NBA games since 2002, was immediately penciled in as the backup to point guard Jeff Teague.
"We are still evaluating our younger guys but bringing in a veteran guy like that, it gives you a little bit more credibility," Hawks coach Larry Drew said. "The rest of the guys, I'm sure they have kind of been wondering what was going to happen at the backup position.”
Until Pargo's arrival, the candidates for the job were rookies Donald Sloan, Brad Wanamaker and Pape Sy. Kirk Hinrich is expected to be out at least another month as he recovers from shoulder surgery.
Sloan and Wanamaker went undrafted last June. Sy, Atlanta's second-round draft pick in 2010, logged a total of 21 minutes last season and has been playing at shooting guard for most of training camp.
Pargo will have to get up to speed quickly on Atlanta's schemes. The Hawks play host to Charlotte on Thursday in their second and final exhibition game before opening the regular season on Tuesday at New Jersey.
“I've been in this league for nine years so hopefully I can pick it up sooner rather than later,” Pargo said.
Pargo, 32, was recently waived by Chicago. He was with the Bulls last season but didn't appear in a game after playing 63 games for Chicago in 2009-10.
In addition to Pargo's experience, the Hawks hope he can help boost the team's bench scoring after the departure of free agent Jamal Crawford to Portland. Pargo isn't as efficient offensively as Crawford, but Pargo's 15-point average per 36 minutes in 2009-10 is comparable to Crawford's 16.9 mark last season.
“I think it's a perfect fit,” Pargo said. “I think it's a great opportunity. With this team losing Jamal, [that is] a lot of scoring, a lot of offensive firepower you are losing. He's a great player.
“Hopefully I can come in and help out with that as much as I can. I don't think any one player is going to fill Jamal's shoes. We are going to have to do it collectively as a unit.”
Pargo joins veterans Tracy McGrady, Vladimir Radmanovic and Zaza Pachulia to form Atlanta's primary unit of bench players.
Pargo played one season with Hawks guard Joe Johnson at the University of Arkansas and also teamed with Hinrich for two seasons in Chicago.
“I think he will be a great fit,” Johnson said. “He's a guy who can shoot the ball, he's a good defender and he can create open looks for his teammates and himself. We are going to need that scoring punch off the bench every night.”
Pargo's one-year, veterans' minimum contract provides the Hawks some flexibility to avoid a luxury-tax payment at season's end. His contract is among those that won't become guaranteed until Feb. 10. The unpaid portion of non-guaranteed contracts does not count toward team salary if players are waived by that date.
