The Atlanta Hawks have signed Skylar Mays to a two-way contract.

Mays averaged 3.8 points and 1.1 rebounds in 8.2 minutes as a rookie for the Hawks last season (.449 FG%, .350 3FG%, .880 FT%) in 33 contests. 

In four contests with the Hawks at the 2021 NBA Las Vegas Summer League, he compiled 18.8 points, 3.8 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 28.7 minutes (.463 FG%, .333 3FG%, 16-16 FTs).

Selected by the Hawks in the second round (50th overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft, Mays originally signed a two-way contract with the Hawks on Nov. 24, 2020.

Paul Millsap remains one of the most prominent free agents unsigned on the market.

Millsap has drawn interest from the Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves. The Warriors have been the team most often linked with Millsap, but no deal with any team has come close to the finish line.

"I think he just wants to know he's the third big or the reserve, small-ball 5 for a good team," one assistant general manager told B/R.

Denver could feasibly bring him back with just under $3.5 million in wiggle room below the tax, but it seems Millsap is looking for a richer payday.

Millsap's conversations with teams this summer have revolved around salary figures at or near the $5.9 million tax-payer mid-level exception.

"I think he's gonna be a minimum or a midseason guy," said one veteran front office voice. "What's the rush? The money wouldn't get much better, and he can just pick his team. What if New Orleans is really good come January? What happens when some guy gets hurt, and that team starts scrambling for a replacement? He can pick his spot."

The Atlanta Hawks are adding Nick Van Exel to Nate McMillan's staff as an assistant coach. Van Exel had previously worked for Atlanta for three seasons as a player development coach from 2010 to 2013.

Van Exel got started in coaching after his 13-year playing career ended in 2006. He's been on staffs with the Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks, in addition to the Hawks, in the NBA. He started his coaching career at Texas Southern University.

The Atlanta Hawks have signed forward A.J. Lawson. Lawson went undrafted out of South Carolina at the 2021 NBA Draft. It's expected that Lawson signed a partial or non-guaranteed, training camp contract with Atlanta.

As a junior at South Carolina, Lawson averaged 16.6 points per game. He started Summer League with the Miami Heat, before moving to the Hawks for Las Vegas Summer League. Lawson averaged 4.5 points and four rebounds per game for Atlanta in Las Vegas.

The schedule NBA's annual Christmas Day extravaganza has been set. As per usual, there are five games scheduled on December 25:

Atlanta Hawks at New York Knicks - 12:00 PM ET on ESPN

Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks - 2:30 PM ET on ABC

Golden State Warriors at Phoenix Suns - 5:00 PM ET on ABC

Brooklyn Nets at Los Angeles Lakers - 8:00 PM ET on ABC/ESPN

Dallas Mavericks at Utah Jazz - 10:30 PM ET on ESPN

The Atlanta Hawks will try to sign Kevin Huerter to a contract extension this offseason. If Huerter and the Hawks are unable to agree to terms, he would become a restricted free agent in 2022. Huerter is represented by Andy Shiffman. 

“We’ve spoken with his agent,” Travis Schlenk said. “We’re going to get into deeper dialogue next week. His agent wanted to wait a little bit and get all his free agents signed, before he went into extensions, less time-sensitive matters like the extension, but certainly his agent and Kevin are hoping to have that dialogue and certainly we are as well… Our intention is to try and get something done with Kevin, for sure.”

Huerter averaged 11.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 30.8 minutes per game last season.

The Hawks were unable to agree to an extension with John Collins before the 20-21 season, but were able to agree to terms in restricted free agency.

The Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics and Sacramento Kings have completed a long-awaited three-team trade.

Atlanta acquired guard Delon Wright from Sacramento. Wright is expected to help fill the backup point guard role behind Trae Young.

Boston acquired guard Kris Dunn and center Bruno Fernando from Atlanta. It's unknown what the Celtics plans are for either player, given how tight to the luxury tax the Celtics are. Boston also acquired a 2023 second round pick in the deal from Atlanta. This pick will be conveyed by the Portland Trail Blazers via the Hawks.

In addition, the Celtics created a Traded Player Exception of $9.7 million in the deal.

Sacramento acquired center Tristan Thompson from Boston. Thompson is expected to give the Kings additional frontcourt depth behind recently re-signed Richaun Holmes.

Veteran guard Lou Williams is re-signing with the Atlanta Hawks for $5 million for one season. Williams was traded to Atlanta from the LA Clippers at the 2021 trade deadline.

The upcoming season will be Williams' 17th year in the NBA. He's a three-time winner of the Sixth Man of the Year award, garnering nods in 2015 and in back-to-back years in 2018 and 2019.

Last season, Williams averaged 10 points per game with the Hawks as Trae Young's backup. Atlanta also re-signed John Collins and Solomon Hill, as they look to improve upon last season's run to the Eastern Conference Finals.

John Collins has agreed to a five-year, $125 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks. Collins' deal with the Hawks includes a player option in Year 5.

Collins was the top restricted free agent on the market.

The Hawks previously offered Collins a four-year, $90 million contract extension before the 20-21 season that he turned down.

Collins averaged 17.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 29.3 minutes per game last season.

Tony Snell has agreed to a one-year deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. 

Snell averaged 5.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 21.1 minutes per game last season with the Atlanta Hawks.