The Atlanta Hawks aren’t just a case study on how to handle race in the business world.
They’re also a basketball team – one trying to proceed as usual.
Bruce Levenson is selling his stake, and he’s already been scrubbed from the team website. Danny Ferry – with the approval of Adam Silver – will keep his job (for now) and face his punishment privately.
And they’re also signing free agents.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:
Atlanta has re-signed Elton Brand to a one-year, $2M contract, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 10, 2014
The NBA covers a portion of the salary for veterans with more than two years experience who are on one-year minimum contracts, but contrary to expectations, Brand didn’t qualify.
Brand’s minimum contract would have paid him $1,448,490, so he got a bump – one that will cost the Hawks in both real and cap dollars. To give Brand the extra $551,510, they must pay him $1,084,757 more.
For that money, Brand will provide center depth with Al Horford and Pero Antic. Mike Budenholzer would be wise not to overwork the 15-year veteran, especially because the coach has other options to share minutes.
As far as the bigger picture in Atlanta, Brand re-signing does not necessarily mean Hawks players support Ferry. This deal has been in the works since before the scandal broke, and Brand doesn’t speak for everyone, anyway.
Brand becomes the Hawks’ 15th player, so they could be done for the summer, meaning this could be Ferry’s last move as the team’s general manager.