Playing on a subpar roster in Atlanta, Antoine Walker might be on his way for a season in which he averages 20 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game. If Walker brings the kind of leadership the Hawks are hoping for, he could be hard for the Hawks to part with.

General manager Billy Knight has called Walker the kind of player he would like to have going forward, but it won't be easy.

Walker makes $14.625 million this season in the final year of his contract and would almost certainly have to take a pay cut to remain.  It is highly unlikely that any other club would give him a contract worth as much as the Boston Celtics did several years ago.

One alternative would be to deal Walker during the season or after, possibly in a sign-and-trade deal. There is now a strong chance that both the Hawks and Walker would want to continue their relationship.

The NBA GM's have voted and Atlanta Hawk Al Harrington is the one player they expect most to have a breakout season.

Now that he isn't on the Pacers' loaded roster, he will have the chance to really demonstrate his talents.

Brian Scalabrine of the New Jersey Nets is another player who received votes by the GM's and is a player who RealGM.com expects to have a truly breakout season.

Atlanta Hawks Executive Vice President and General Manager Billy Knight today announced the promotion of Chris Grant to the position of Vice President of Basketball Operations and Assistant General Manager.

?We have significantly upgraded our basketball operations staff and I?m very appreciative that our ownership group and Bernie Mullin have provided me with the resources to get the job accomplished,? said Knight. ?Chris and I have worked very closely over the past three seasons, and this promotion is a reflection of the confidence I have in his abilities. He is an important part of our organization and I know his basketball knowledge will serve us well.?

Grant, who is beginning his ninth season with the Hawks, has served in several different capacities for the club, most recently as the team?s director of scouting. Since joining the Atlanta organization in 1996, Grant has now held six different positions within basketball operations, ranging from video intern, to video coordinator, NBA advance scout, assistant director of scouting and director of scouting.

He will be responsible for assisting Knight in all facets of the day-to-day operations of the department, including all player acquisitions at the professional and collegiate level.

Former first round selection of the Chicago Bulls, guard Corey Benjamin, was released by the expansion Charlotte Bobcats.

Benjamin signed as a free agent on July 29. In three preseason games, he scored two points with five rebounds in 23 minutes.

Benjamin entered the NBA draft after his sophomore season at Oregon State and was selected 28th overall by the Bulls. He averaged 5.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in 144 NBA games with the Bulls.

Benjamin has since played for teams in Italy, France and in U.S. developmental leagues. He also had a brief stint with the Atlanta Hawks in 2002-03.

Former Hawk and 15-year league veteran Grant Long has reached agreement to serve as the television analyst for Hawks games on PAX-TV, Turner South and FSN South this season. He will work alongside respective play-by-play men Bob Neal (on PAX-TV and Turner South) and Bob Rathbun (on FSN South).

"This is a great opportunity for me to be able to do something that I love, and impart information and opinion to the fans from the analyst?s seat," Long said. "I have good memories of my time playing with the Hawks, so I?m thrilled to remain in the game and in the city of Atlanta."

Long spent three seasons (1994-96; 1998-99) with the Hawks, averaging 11.8 ppg and 8.0 rpg (46.4 FG%, 76.6 FT%) in 211 contests. Overall, he played 15 seasons for Miami, Atlanta, Detroit, Vancouver/Memphis and Boston. He last played in the 2002-03 season, appearing in 41 games with the Celtics. He posted 9.5 ppg and 6.1 rpg (46.7 FG%, 76.1 FT%) in 1003 career games.

While the season hasn't yet began from NBA teams it is already over for Hawks' forward Chris Crawford courtesy of a torn ligament in his right knee.

Crawford was injured Thursday during an exhibition game against Minnesota when he was fouled by reigning MVP Kevin Garnett as Crawford tried to convert a steal into a transition basket.

Crawford has a history of knee injuries and these could be career-threatening. He plans to consult with the medical staff before deciding on surgery.

"This is certainly a tough thing for Chris personally and for our team," Hawks general manager Billy Knight said. "We feel bad for him because he's worked diligently to recover from past injuries, and would have been a major part of our rotation. We wish him all the best in his recovery."

Crawford was expected to be the top backup for new forwards Antoine Walker and Al Harrington.

"It's such a difficult blow for Chris," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. "He had worked so hard to get into the position to play positive minutes, and he had been playing very well. He had a great camp. All we can do is give him support and hope for a successful recovery."

The Atlanta Hawks signed their GM Billy Knight to a contract extension.  They also added the title of executive vice president to his responsibilities.

His recent moves have included trades for Antoine Walker and Al Harrington.  Knight also drafted Josh Childress out of Stanford with their first round selection.

Atlanta Hawks general manager Billy Knight and director of basketball operations Chris Grant were in Houston on Thursday to watch troubled forward Eddie Griffin work out.

Griffin, cut last season by both the New Jersey Nets and the Houston Rockets, said Atlanta and the Los Angeles Lakers are among several teams considering signing him for the upcoming season.

"Definitely L.A. with Rudy [Tomjanovich] over there, Miami, Minnesota and Atlanta," Griffin told Houston television station KRIV in a report aired Thursday.

Hawks spokesman Arthur Triche told The Associated Press the team would have no comment Thursday night.

"It means a lot," Griffin said. "Now I am on the rebound and trying to get back in the league. It makes me feel good to have some teams out here watching me and wanting me to come play."

Griffin was the seventh pick overall in the 2001 NBA Draft.

He missed the entire 2003-04 season because of ongoing legal battles and substance abuse issues. He has been working with former NBA coach John Lucas, who overcame his own substance abuse issues.

Griffin was given 18 months probation in March after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of deadly conduct. He was ordered to continue outpatient treatment for alcohol abuse.

Griffin also was fined $1,000 by a judge who suspended his driver's license for six months following a marijuana conviction in January.

"He's done six months, eight months of care and is doing what he needs to do, and it's time to move on with his life," Lucas said. "He's doing very well right now. Basketball has never been the issue."

Griffin averaged 8.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.63 blocks in 150 career games with the Rockets.

Griffin did not appear in any games for the Nets after signing with them on Jan. 8.