NBA rumors: Atlanta Hawks to waive John Salmons
On Sunday night, the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors completed a trade that sent veteran guard Lou Williams and the 16th-overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, Lucas “Bebe” Nugiera, to the Raptors in exchange for veteran swingman John Salmons.
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According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, the Hawks will now waive Salmons.
"The Atlanta Hawks are clearing salary cap space for free agency, trading away Lou Williams and 2013 first-round pick Lucas Nogueira to Toronto Raptors for John Salmons, a leagues sources told Yahoo Sports.Salmons has a $7 million team option for the 2014-15 season, which the Hawks will terminate with a $1 million buyout on Monday, league sources said."
The Hawks, who made a big move in free agency last year when they signed former Utah Jazz big man Paul Millsap, are hoping to do the same this year. According to one report, they are one of the teams that will attempt to sign both Miami Heat forward LeBron James and New York Knicks’ forward Carmelo Anthony. This move helps them create space to do so.
Salmons averaged 5.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 36.3% from the floor, 38.7% from beyond the arc and 76.9% from the free throw line last season. Salmons was originally drafted with the 26th-overall pick in the first round of the 2002 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs. He has since played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks and the Raptors. Over his career, he has averaged 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 43.2% from the field, 36.6% from beyond the arc and 80.0% from beyond the arc.