Like many other teams, the Nuggets will make several calls to Atlanta and Charlotte regarding trades between now and the deadline.  

Both teams are under the salary cap and the Nuggets would like to dump some salary, as they are $3 million over the luxury tax threshold.

The Atlanta Hawks today signed veteran free agent forward/center Stanislav ?Slava? Medvedenko, according to Hawks? Executive Vice President/General Manager Billy Knight. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Medvedenko spent six years with the Los Angeles Lakers (2000-06), averaging 5.4 ppg and 2.9 rpg in 249 career games (.451 FG%, .732 FT%). He enjoyed his best season in 2003-04, when he put in 8.3 ppg and 5.0 rpg over 68 contests (.441 FG%, .767 FT%). The native of Kiev, Ukraine owns two NBA championship rings (2001, 2002) from his time with the Lakers, and was a teammate of Hawks guard Tyronn Lue in L.A. in 2000-01.

The Atlanta Hawks are expected to sign Slava Medvedenko on Thursday.

Medvedenko has recovered from back surgery and will give the Hawks some veteran depth up front.

A report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution states that third-year forward Josh Smith will have hernia surgery Tuesday and could miss as many as four weeks.

Smith joined starting center Zaza Pachulia (sprained elbow), reserve swingman Josh Childress (foot) and backup point guard Tyronn Lue (groin) on the bench for Saturday night's game against the Pistons. Starting point guard Speedy Claxton (back spasms) didn't even make the trip.

"I've played through it for the past two months," Smith told the newpaper. "I was pushing through it, trying to the best I could to help my team. But I've got to shut it down now."

Slava Medvedenko, former big man for the Los Angeles Lakers, went through a private workout for the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday.

"We liked him in the workout," said general manager Billy Knight. "Tyronn Lue and Zaza Pachulia know him. Lue has played with him, and we always reference those things with our guys. So all of the things we saw with him are good and positive."

The Hawks roster is currently filled, so the club would be required to waive a player in order to sign Medvendenko.

Joe Johnson, the NBA's fourth-leading scorer, sat out Sunday's loss at Sacramento due to a strained calf suffered in a loss Friday night to the Lakers.

Kobe Bryant did not play against the Atlanta Hawks last night, deciding to sit and rest his sprained ankle suffered Monday night against the Pacers.

Bryant did not return that night, but he did play Wednesday against the New Orleans Hornets, operating by his own admission at 50% efficiency and scoring 24 points.

That efficiency level dropped even more late in the game when the ankle stiffened. And by Thursday, the swelling had increased.

Still, Bryant came to Staples Center with an open mind Friday night.

"We made the final decision not to play about 20 minutes before game time," Bryant said. "[Trainer] Gary Vitti tried everything as far as taping up my ankle to the reduce the pain, but we couldn't do it."

Marvin Williams is on his way back, and earlier than expected, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting.

Williams has been cleared to suit up for Friday's game against the Lakers in Los Angeles, four days before he was slated to return from a fractured finger on his left hand that cost him the first month of the season.

"I'm trying to get ready by Friday," a grinning Williams said after a rigorous pregame workout with Hawks assistant coach David Fizdale. "I'm going to be winded for sure, because there's nothing like basketball shape. It'll take me a week or so to get all the way back to where I want to be. But I'll be there Friday night, which is most important, and I'll be back to normal in no time."

Atlanta Hawks center Zaza Pachulia has been suspended for one game without pay and assessed a Flagrant Foul, Penalty Two, it was announced on Wednesday by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with :57 remaining in the third  period of Seattle?s 102-87 win over Atlanta on Tuesday, December 5 at KeyArena when Pachulia elbowed Seattle center Johan Petro in the neck and head area.  Pachulia will serve the suspension tonight when the Hawks take on the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center.

Hawks forward Marvin Williams is likely to miss at least two more weeks with a broken left hand, coach Mike Woodson said.

Williams, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2005 draft, was hurt during training camp and has yet to play this season.