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.