Josh Smith confirmed on Monday that the Atlanta Hawks did not meet with him in free agency and did not offer contract to re-sign him.

“No, there wasn’t,” Smith told 92.9 FM Atlanta, when asked if there was a contract offer. “During free agency, during that period, there were a lot of guys out in L.A. that were meeting with various teams. I was one of those guys. That’s where I work out in the summertime as well. The only time I saw the Hawks during free agency was when they came to one of my workouts just to say hello. I think they were meeting with Dwight Howard that day. They never came in or sat down with me during the free agency period to offer me anything.”

Smith, the long-time Hawks player and local product, ended up signing a four-year, $54 million contract with the Pistons in July. The forward returns to Atlanta Wednesday for his first game at Philips Arena as a visitor.

Smith, who is top 10 in most of the Hawks’ all-time statistical categories after nine years with the organization, said he has no hard feelings.

“Once you take your personal feelings out of the situation you understand that it is a business, more so than anything,” Smith said. “You kind of are going to set yourself up for failure. It’s probably an organization that probably wanted to go in a different direction and I understand that. I moved on for the better of my situation and I’m pretty sure they felt the same way.”

Lou Williams participated in some contact drills Tuesday for the first time in his rehabilitation from a torn ACL in his right knee.

The next step in Williams' rehab will be to receive clearance for five-on-five contact drills. Williams has played three-on-three and four-on-four recently.

“He’s getting closer,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said.

It could take a month once Williams returns to full contact practices to be ready to play in a game.

The Atlanta Hawks have assigned guard Jared Cunningham to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League.

Cunningham has appeared in one game for the Hawks this season, logging four minutes at Denver (11/7).

While with the Dallas Mavericks last season, Cunningham played in 15 D-League games for the Texas Legends, and averaged 15.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 34.5 minutes (.335 FG%, .721 FT%).

Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder has been suspended for one game without pay for striking DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings in the groin.

The incident occurred with 9:54 remaining in the fourth quarter of Atlanta's 105-100 win over Sacramento on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at Sleep Train Arena.

Schroder will serve his suspension Thursday when the Hawks visit the Denver Nuggets.

The Atlanta Hawks will use rotating captains for the team this season.

According to the Hawks, the details of the new system will be kept "in house."

Al Horford is entering his seventh season with the Hawks, while Jeff Teague is in his fifth year with the organization.