via Hawks PR:
The Atlanta Hawks today signed guard/forward Damien Wilkins to a contract, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund. Per team policy, terms were not disclosed.
Wilkins, 30, played in two preseason games with Memphis this year, averaging 2.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg and 1.0 spg (.400 FG%). He has appeared in 390 regular season NBA games over six seasons with Seattle/Oklahoma City (2004-09) and Minnesota (2009-10), and owns career averages of 7.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg and 1.6 apg (.421 FG%, .333 3FG%, .807 FT%). Wilkins saw action in seven playoff games with Seattle in 2004-05, putting up 5.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg and 1.4 spg (.444 FG%).
The son of former NBA player Gerald Wilkins and nephew of Hawks Hall-of-Famer Dominique Wilkins, he played his first two years of college basketball at North Carolina State (1999-2001), before transferring to Georgia for his final two campaigns (2002-04).
Updated after the jump
MC checks in now with all the details.
Larry Drew comments on the acquisition:
“I think we’ll get a hard-nosed player, a guy who plays hard,” coach Larry Drew said. “A good defensive player who gives us a guy with size that can defend the [shooting guard] and the [small forward] spot. I’m more focused on his energy and the toughness that he brings and he’s a solid defensive player. That’s something you can never have enough of. We are very pleased to have him on board.”
Cunningham reports that the Hawks signed Wilkins to a prorated veteran's minimum contract. It is expected that Wilkins will slide into that back up small forward slot with Mo Evans seeing more time at the shooting guard position.
Wilkins had this to say about signing on with the Hawks:
“I feel like a rookie all over again,” Wilkins said. “This is like a dream come true to play for a team that has been my favorite team pretty much my entire life watching my uncle play here. I still can’t believe it. It hasn’t hit me yet. I am sure it will when I suit up.”