:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50394955/497765900.0.jpg)
As recently as late July, Atlanta Hawks center Tiago Splitter was seen moving with fluidity during rehab workouts, and now, there is reason to believe that the 31-year-old big man will be ready to begin training camp at full health.
Chris Vivlamore of the AJC recently spoke with Splitter and had this takeaway:
Spoke to Tiago Splitter from Rio. He still plans to be ready for start of training camp after hip surgery. Will post story tomorrow.
— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) August 14, 2016
Despite the addition of Kris Humphries on a modest, one-year contract, there is every indication that Splitter would be a factor in Atlanta’s rotation if healthy. The former San Antonio Spurs center appeared in only 36 games during his debut campaign with the Hawks, and throughout those appearances, his health was an issue until Splitter was ultimately sidelined by serious hip surgery.
Still, Splitter has been a highly productive big man in the NBA for some time, and he would bring a defensive-minded approach to a reserve role in a way that Humphries can’t match. It is always nice to have options, and if Splitter can regain his health and some level of explosiveness, Mike Budenholzer will be able to tinker with a number of looks behind Dwight Howard.
Stay tuned.