Louis Williams is officially home.
The Hawks signed Williams on Thursday, days after agreeing to terms with the guard on a multi-year contract. Terms were not disclosed, but the Hawks likely signed Williams by using part of their mid-level salary-cap exception.
Williams, 25, is a former star at South Gwinnett High school, a two-time Mr. Basketball winner in Georgia and a McDonald's All-American.
"Upon learning of his situation, Lou was a player we really targeted for our club," Hawks general manager Danny Ferry said in a statement. "He's a young and experienced professional who is capable of providing leadership as a starter or a reserve, and his versatility is a tremendous plus for our backcourt."
The Hawks announced the Williams signing a day after they formally concluded the trades of Joe Johnson to the Nets and Marvin Williams to the Jazz.
Williams (6-foot-1) played seven seasons with the 76ers after going from to the NBA from high school. His career averages in Philadelphia were 11.3 points, three assists and two rebounds in 455 games. He led the 76ers in scoring with a career-high 14.9 points in 26.3 minutes coming off the bench and finished second behind the Thunder's James Harden in the NBA's Sixth Man Award voting this season. He led the Sixers in total points (956) despite not starting a game and was the first player to accomplish the feat since Dell Curry for Charlotte (1993-94).
Williams figures to fill a similar bench-scoring role with the Hawks. Last season he ranked sixth in scoring rate among point guards who played at least 25 minutes per game.
Williams became a free agent after he opted out of the final year of his contract with the 76ers, which was to pay him $5.4 million in 2012-13.
The Sixers took Williams in the second round of the 2005 draft (No. 45 overall) after a stellar career at South Gwinnett. He originally committed to play collegiately at Georgia.
Williams wore No. 23 with the 76ers, but will have to change numbers with the Hawks. The number is retired by the organization in honor of Lou Hudson.
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