Jeffrey Denberg of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the Atlanta Hawks refused the fourth year option on DerMarr Johnson?s contract. The team stated they couldn?t shoulder the financial burden of Johnson?s salary without knowing whether he would be able to return from injuries sustained from a car accident.

"We searched for alternatives, but there weren't any," executive vice president and general manager Pete Babcock said Thursday afternoon. "We have no assurance that he will ever be able to play again. The prospect of a head-to-head collision or a fall is frightening. The results could be catastrophic."

If the option had been picked up, Johnson would be paid over $3 million for the 2003-04 season. With the Hawks team salary projected to be over the luxury tax threshold, that would cost the team an additional $3 million in tax penalties.

"There's no way we could commit that much money, not knowing what DerMarr's future will be," Babcock said. "Doctors have assured us that he will recover fully and live a normal life, but they cannot tell us if he can play basketball again or, if so, when."

The Hawks will wait until doctors can give them more information about Johnson?s prognosis before committing to him financially. They will still have the ability to re-sign Johnson this summer.

Johnson understands the teams decision. "I understand it's a difficult decision for them," he said. "I'm not angry."