The Atlanta Hawks’ Al Horford and the San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan have been named Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 19, through Sunday, Nov. 25.  

Horford led the Hawks to a 4-0 week, averaging 16.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists. He recorded a career-high 10 assists on Nov. 21 as Atlanta topped the Washington Wizards 101-100. Horford’s 26-point, 13-rebound double-double in a 101-91 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Nov. 23 helped the Hawks to improve their road record to 4-2, tops in the conference.

Duncan helped the Spurs to a 3-1 week with averages of 22.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 blocks. He posted three consecutive point-rebound double-doubles in games against the Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers. Duncan’s lone game last week without a double-double still showed a balanced stat line of 26 points, six assists, five rebounds and three blocks as the Spurs bested the Raptors 111-106 on Nov. 25 – a game in which Duncan recorded his 2,500^th career block. 

The Los Angeles Lakers have had internal discussions for several months about acquiring Josh Smith from the Atlanta Hawks, according to sources.

Sources say, however, that the Hawks have no interest in trading Smith for a package centered around Pau Gasol.

Smith is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.

For the Lakers, trading Gasol for Smith would allow the team to get younger and more athletic. Moreover, Smith is one of Dwight Howard's closest friends in the NBA.

After watching a strong workout last week, the Atlanta Hawks have yet give Kyrylo Fesenko an indication of whether they’ll sign him. But the 7-foot-1 big man told RealGM on Monday afternoon that Atlanta remains interested and is still an option.

“[The workout] went very well and it was very positive talking to [Hawks] coaches and the administration,” Fesenko said in a phone conversation. “I was running hard, jumping, dunking, shooting.”

As of now, Fesenko is continuing to work out in Colorado to get in better shape while monitoring which potential situations or injuries pop up as the season continues.

“He is in good shape,” said trainer Matt Barnett, who has helped lead Fesenko’s sessions in Denver. “I believe that training … at Elevation Basketball in Colorado altitude is really helping him prepare for the day he gets the call. It’s hard to simulate an NBA practice in private workouts, but we are pushing him every day to prepare him the best we can.”

Fesenko was waived by the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 18, a week after sustaining a flu that kept him out of practices and games. He was disappointed in being hit with the sickness in the midst of battling throughout training camp.

“My [flu] really was bad timing because I was supposed to play more,” said Fesenko.

He also praised the Bulls for parting ways earlier than they had to so that he could pursue opportunities elsewhere as a free agent.

The Bulls will be able to add a player on a veteran minimum deal later this month, at which point Fesenko has not ruled out returning. Even so, Fesenko knows the opportunity with Chicago might not come, and he’s adamant that he isn't “picky” about where he could sign. He has dealt with nagging injuries, including a leg ailment that hampered him last season, but makes it clear he’s fully healthy now.

“I just want to get back into the league and show everyone the new and improved me,” Fesenko said. “Teams haven’t gotten to see me healthy, 100 percent, but hopefully I can get back.”