The Hawks are evaluating options to fill their 15th roster spot, but the player most likely will be a true point guard.
Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said the team plans to fill the final spot. He said the Hawks are looking over the international, NBA Development League and buyout markets. The Hawks will consider both 10-day contracts and end-of-season contracts.
“We are still constantly looking at the list and evaluating who might be the right person or the right fit for us,” Budenholzer said Wednesday morning. “Obviously, we haven’t made a decision, but it’s a pretty constant dialogue.”
Jose Calderon is “one of the possibilities,” according to a person familar with the situation. The team’s interest in the point guard, who was recently bought out by the Lakers, was first reported by ESPN’s Marc Stein.
The Hawks have an open spot after waiving Lamar Patterson over the weekend. The Hawks brought in Gary Neal and Patterson on 10-day contracts before the NBA trade deadline. Both are combo-guards. Budenholzer said the most likely scenario will be a true point guard.
“We obviously brought in a guy like Gary (Neal) who is more of a (shooting guard, point guard),” Budenholzer said. “I think the 15th guy has to have some point guard in him, if not just a stone-cold point guard, which is probably more likely.”
The buyout market will be set today with the NBA’s playoff eligibility waiver deadline. Players must be waived by their current team by midnight March 1 to have time to clear waivers and sign with another team before the deadline for postseason eligibility.
