The Hawks have not made a decision on whether to make offers to restricted free agents Jeff Teague and Ivan Johnson, according to general manager Danny Ferry.
The team must make qualifying offers to each before July 1 or they become unrestricted free agents. A qualifying offer would constitute a one-year guaranteed contract and give the Hawks the right to match an offer made by another team.
Ferry said he and his staff are concentrating on next week’s NBA draft and will turn their attention to other matters following its conclusion. The Hawks have four picks, Nos. 17 and 18 overall in the first round and Nos. 47 and 50 overall in the second round. The draft is scheduled for June 27.
“We are focused on the draft right now obviously,” Ferry said. “Our roster and our team decisions will unfold after that but certainly we value the guys we had on our roster last year. We’ll look at all the opportunities that are out there for us going forward as well.”
Teague played in 80 games last season, his fourth with the team after being drafted 19th overall in 2009. He averaged 14.6 points, third on the team. The point guard led the team with 7.2 assists per game. Johnson averaged 6.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 69 games last season.
No word on free-agent plans: Ferry would not disclose the Hawks' plans for the free-agency period, which starts July 1. That includes whether the team plans to make an offer to Josh Smith, the team's leading scorer who will become an unrestricted free agent. Smith said he plans to test the free-agent market.
“I think we’ll get through the draft and then we’ll work through the decisions that we have to make from there,” Ferry said.
One more assistant coach: The Hawks likely will add one more assistant to coach Mike Budenholzer's staff that already includes Quin Snyder and Darvin Ham. The hire might not be made until the end of the July. Kenny Atkinson, assistant coach/player development, is the only holdover from Larry Drew's staff. All members of the training staff remain.
“I don’t think the staff is complete, but for now it’s in a really solid position,” Ferry said. “I like the group of guys who are working together.”
Snyder has not joined the team as he is relocating from Russia, where he spent two seasons as an assistant with CSKA Moscow. Ham already is on board.
Summer league: Ferry said no decision has been made on who will coach the Hawks' entry in next month's Las Vegas Summer League. The Hawks will practice in Las Vegas on July 10 and begin a six-game schedule July 12. Following the conclusion of the schedule, the league will use a playoff format to determine an overall champion.
Last year’s draft picks John Jenkins and Mike Scott and Shelvin Mack will participate for the Hawks.
