The Atlanta Hawks signed Lance Stephenson to a 10-day hardship deal Tuesday. The team already had star point guard Trae Young in the NBA's health and safety protocols. At least a couple of teammates will join him.
Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela has entered the league's Covid protocols too, sources tell ESPN. The Hawks are potentially without him, Trae Young and Gallinari on Christmas Day vs. the Knicks. https://t.co/QnBUabtFs4
Without the new roster rules, Atlanta would have been in a holding pattern waiting to hit the criteria of 4 players with injury/COVID.
The Hawks can go out and sign three players now to replace Trae Young, Danilo Gallinari and Capela. https://t.co/qeW1LxbLDF
Sarah K. Spencer of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that in addition to Capela and Gallinari, three Hawks staff members were going into the protocols. Spencer also confirmed that Stephenson and forward Malcolm Hill were signing with the club on 10-day hardship exemptions.
Capela was the 25th overall pick by the Houston Rockets in the 2014 NBA Draft. He played the first six seasons of his career with Houston, before being traded to Atlanta in February 2020.
The 27-year-old led the league in field goal percentage at 65.2% in the 2017-2018 season and led the NBA in rebounding at 14.3 per game last season. In 29 games this year, Capela has averaged 11.5 points, 12.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 29.8 minutes per contest.
Gallinari was chosen sixth overall by the New York Knicks in the 2008 NBA Draft and, in addition to the Hawks, has spent time with the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder. The 33-year-old Italian has averaged 15.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 30.1 minutes per game over his 688-game career, while posting a .427/.383/.876 shooting line.
The Hawks are scheduled to play the Orlando Magic at 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
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