The Hawks needed a wing player with size.
Enter Thabo Sefolosha.
The team agreed to a three-year, $12 million contract with the free-agent guard Thursday, according to a person familiar with the situation. In Sefolosha, the Hawks nabbed a starter from the Western Conference power Thunder. The Hawks cannot officially sign Sefolosha until the NBA’s moratorium on free-agent signings concludes July 10.
“I definitely got a big smile on my face right now,” Sefolosha told the Oklahoman.
Sefolosha (6-foot-7, 222 pounds) was a 2006 first-round draft pick (No. 13 overall) and has played eight seasons with the Bulls and Thunder. He has been a 5-1/2 year starter for the Thunder.
The signing fills a void for the Hawks, who struggled when either DeMarre Carroll or Kyle Korver was out of the lineup. The Hawks were 1-8 without Carroll and 1-10 without Korver last season. They were 0-2 without both. Sefolosha also gives the Hawks another strong defender.
Sefolosha, a native of Switzerland, averaged 6.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 26.0 minutes for the Thunder last season. He shot 48 of 152 (.316) from 3-point range. For his career, he has averaged 5.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 23.4 minutes. He is a career .348 3-point shooter. Sefolosha started 367 of the 368 games he played for the Thunder. He should fit the ball-movement offensive system of coach Mike Budenholzer.
Kevin Durant, the reigning league MVP, praised his Thunder teammate via social media following the news. He tweeted: “Congrats @ThaboSefolosha! Thanks for all the hard work u put in while in a thunder uniform, good luck.”
The deal puts the Hawks about $11.5 million under the salary cap for additional signings should they choose. They are believed to still be interested in forward Luol Deng, who has only recently returned to the United States to begin meeting with several reported suitors.
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