The Hawks have signed center Obinna Ekezie for the remainder of the 2004-05 season, according to Executive VP/General Manager Billy Knight.  

Ekezie has seen action in 10 games after signing two ten-day contracts, averaging 1.8 ppg and 2.3 rpg.

This weekend's delays were the worst for the Atlanta Hawks beginning Friday night with bad weather including freezing rain.  After giving up on the flight at 6 a.m. on Saturday, the team tried to nap at a downtown Atlanta hotel for a few hours.  

At mid-afternoon Saturday, the Hawks headed back to the airport, having lined up a different charter for the one-hour flight. After waiting through another tedious de-icing, the Hawks finally took off.

The travel complications, however, were not over. The team couldn't find lodging in Memphis and had to settle for a hotel about 30 minutes out of town. Then the players found the hotel dining room was closed, so the search for a late dinner ended at a nearby pancake restaurant.

The Hawks' return flight to a foggy Atlanta landed about 12:30 p.m., according to Triche, who said players were given a day off before a practice Monday morning for a home game that night against Orlando.

It marked the third straight week Atlanta has encountered travel problems. The Hawks were stuck en route to Boston for a Jan. 14 game with the Celtics because of fog, and in Chicago after a Jan. 21 game when the flight crew did not have enough members.

The Atlanta Hawks flight to Memphis was delayed overnight, forcing the club to fly into town just 90 minutes before town by police escort.

Despite the travel conditions, the Hawks played the Grizzlies tough, losing by just one point, 84-83.

Jason Williams led all scorers with 23 points and also recorded 8 assists.

The Atlanta Hawks left their arena immediately following their loss to Miami on Friday night hoping to get to Memphis early Saturday morning. As of Saturday afternoon, they still haven't left Atlanta.

Atlanta Hawks, which are scheduled to face Memphis at 8pm ET, got stranded at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the midst of an ice storm which was sweeping through Atlanta with freezing rain and sleet, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights.

The Atlanta Hawks today placed guard Kenny Anderson (left calf strain) on the injured list, and activated guard Royal Ivey. Anderson has played in 36 games (18 starts), averaging 5.1 ppg and 2.6 apg (.437 FG%, .743 FT%). Ivey missed the last six games due to right knee tendinitis. He has averaged 3.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg and 1.4 apg (.443 FG%, .706 FT%) in 25 contests (four starts) on the season.

Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Indiana Pacers are discussing a potential deal that would send Ron Artest to Atlanta in exchange for Antoine Walker.

Smith goes on to say that Larry Bird has always admired Walker's talent and could make the deal to give Indiana a legitimate shot at the finals this season.

The Hawks have activated center Kevin Willis from the injured list in time for Atlanta's game against the Chicago Bulls Monday and placed guard Donta Smith on the list with tendonitis.  Willis missed the previous seven games with a strained lower back.

Chicago native Antoine Walker always looks forward to coming coming to play the Bulls as it gives the Hawks forward a chance to meet up with family and friends, and with the high scoring forward set to become a free agent this offseason with Walker in town talk quickly turned to the possibility of him wearing Bulls red in 2005-06.

Even though the Bulls have only the mid-level exception to play with, according to Mike McGraw of the Daily Herlad the team will consider making a pitch for Walker.

Walker is a proven scorer who could conceivably step in at power forward for Antonio Davis. For his career, the 6-foot-9 forward averages 19.9 points and 8.7 rebounds, but he shoots just 41.4 percent from the field.

"Every team's on my mind," said Walker, who attended Mt. Carmel High School. "I definitely think I'm going to consider playing (for Atlanta) again. But right now, I'm wide open. I'm trying to stay healthy, show people I can play. Then sit back and wait. Hopefully, they (the Bulls) make a bid for me."

It's been speculated that the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics have been discussing a potential deal that could send Antoine Walker back to Beantown.

Though, you shouldn't get your hopes up. The Hawks are apparently demanding Al Jefferson, the Celtics promising rookie forward be included in any trade involving Walker.

The Atlanta Hawks today signed center Obinna Ekezie to a second 10-day contract, according to Hawks Executive Vice President/General Manager Billy Knight.

Ekezie has played in five contests since originally signing on January 10, and has averaged 2.6 points and 2.2 rebounds per game (.375 FG%, .700 FT%) in 7.8 minutes.