Lucas Nogueira is now in Atlanta.
The Hawks first-round draft pick will have doctors affiliated with the team be a part of the rehabilitation of the severe tendinitis in his knees that has limited the center this season.
Nogueira, who recently suspended his contract with his Spanish League team to seek additional medical advice on the ailing knees, will miss two months. He will split his rehabilitation between Atlanta and Los Angeles, where he also saw doctors about his condition, before eventually returning to play for Asefa Estudiantes Madrid.
Nogueira and his agent elected to use Peachtree Orthopaedics Clinic, the same facility used by the Hawks, for his rehabilitation. It will allow the team to monitor Nogueira’s progress.
Asefa Estudiantes signed Slovenian Uros Slokar to a two-month contract on Dec. 16 to take the place of Nogueira for the length of his expected absence.
Nogueira had been playing in the ACB League while the Hawks retain his rights. The 20-year-old appeared in six games this season. He averaged 5.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 17.5 minutes. He most recently played on Dec. 7 and had seven points and three rebounds in 15 minutes before leaving for Los Angeles to seek additional medical opinions.
The 7-foot center was taken with the 16th overall selection in June’s NBA draft. A native of Brazil, Nogueira returned for another season in the Spanish League to continue his development and add muscle to his 225-pound frame. He appeared in five summer league games for the Hawks and averaged 6.4 points and 6.0 rebounds.
