Mike Muscala is en route to the United States to sign with the Hawks.
The center will join the team after completing a buyout of his contract with his Spanish League team. The pending roster addition was first reported by Sportando Tuesday and cited Muscala’s European agent Misko Raznatovic. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution confirmed the report with two people familiar with the sitution, including a former coach of Muscala. The Hawks have not commented on the report. The website HoopsHype reported Monday that the Hawks had inquired about Muscala.
On Tuesday morning the Twitter account of Blusens Monbus Obradoiro posted the following: “River Natura Monbus and Atlanta Hawks reached an agreement for the transfer of Mike Muscala.”
The 7-footer signed with Blusens Monbus Obradoiro of the ACB League last summer to continue his development. He had a strong 20 games with Monbus Obradoiro and led the ACB League in rebounding (7.8) and was seventh in scoring (14.6).
“Oh yes, judging by the number of exclamation points in his texts (he is excited),” a former coach of Muscala said.
Muscala was acquired by the Hawks with the 44th pick, via a trade with the Mavericks, in the 2013 NBA draft. The Hawks continued to hold his NBA rights as he signed to play in Spain. Muscala’s Spanish contract was believed to be a one-year deal.
Hawks general manger Danny Ferry recently said the team would explore all of its options in adding to a roster beset by injury, especially at the center position.
“Obviously we need to continue to build and add to what we are doing both from the depth of how we play and the depth of our roster,” Ferry said after the trade deadline. “We will continue to do so whether it’s free agency, D-League players or international players this year but also as we look at the summer and the draft and free agency this summer we’ll have the opportunity to explore all of those things. We have many paths and many options opened to us to continue to build and grow our program.”
The Hawks signed center Dexter Pittman to a 10-day contract Saturday. He could be waived to clear a roster spot for Muscala once an agreements is finalized and the details completed.
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