The Atlanta Hawks announced today the signing of Damien Wilkins for the remainder of the season. Wilkins is the nephew of former Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins and originally signed with the club back on December 3rd after Joe Johnson was diagnosed with an elbow injury that required surgery.
Wilkins has provided depth to the Hawks while Joe Johnson and lately Marvin Williams were out injured. The club waived Wilkins on January 5th just a few days before his contract would have been automatically guaranteed for the remainder of the season. Wilkins then signed two consecutive 10-day contracts with Atlanta on January 8th and 18th. His second 10-day contract expired today and the Hawks were faced with either signing him for the remainder of the season or letting him walk,
Larry Drew has been in Wilkins corner since he arrived and I am sure that the rash of injuries the club has endured played a part in the decision to retain Wilkins. On the season, Wilkins has played in 20 games averaging about 12 minutes per contest. He averages 2.6 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.
The Atlanta Hawks have signed free-agent shooting guard/small forward Damien Wilkins, a six-year NBA veteran, to a contract today, according to a team press release. The University of Georgia product owns career averages of 7.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. His biggest claim to fame is being the nephew of Hawks Hall-of-Fame swingman Dominique Wilkins. In 2007, as a member of the Seattle SuperSonics, he scored 40 points in a double-overtime win against Atlanta; his previous career-high in scoring was 26 points.
Wilkins spent last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, appearing in 80 games, with averages of 5.6 points and 3.1 rebounds. Minnesota did not re-sign him upon the expiration of his contract, and he joined the Memphis Grizzlies for two preseason games before they waived him.
Wilkins, who turns 31 next month, figures to fill a few minutes each night on the wing so long as All-Star shooting guard Joe Johnson is out to rehabilitate his right elbow. He is expected to miss the next four-to-six weeks with the injury, as we've covered in this StoryStream.
Wilkins will wear uniform no. 3, according to the Hawks' press release.
