HoopsHype.com Rumors

Hawks forward Marvin Williams will miss at least four games after suffering a lower back injury. Williams fell hard to the floor during the Hawks' victory against Golden State on Wednesday and sustained what the team said is a bruise. Hawks coach Larry Drew said an MRI on Thursday showed no further damage. With Williams out, Drew shifted Josh Smith to small forward to start against the Thunder on Friday. Jason Collins started at center and Al Horford moved to power forward. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Marvin Williams, Injuries 

Hawks forward Marvin Williams was back in the starting lineup Wednesday. It is a spot he'd far more prefer than his station Monday, when he came off the bench in the Hawks' win over Orlando. "I'll be honest with you," Williams said. "I didn't like it, but I have to live with it." Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Marvin Williams 

Williams played well off the bench, recording 12 points and nine rebounds in 26 minutes. "He was a real pro and I didn't expect anything different from him," Drew said. Drew noted some advantages to coming off the bench: Williams would be more of a scoring option with the backups and he could get a feel for the game before going in. Williams needs a little more convincing. Said Williams, "You do what you have to do for the team." Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Marvin Williams 

Mo Evans and Marvin Williams both practiced today and said they could play against Utah Friday. Mo (knee) hasn’t played since the season opener. “I think it went pretty good,” Mo said. “We are definitely not 100 percent but I think we can be effective and help plug some holes.” Marvin (knee), out since the leaving the Detroit game, sounded optimistic about his chances to return tomorrow. “I’m doing better,” he said. “I’m not hobbling around too much. It still hurts, but I’m pretty excited. As long as nothing happens tonight, I will try to give it a go tomorrow depending on how it feels.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Marvin Williams, Maurice Evans 

Hawks coach Larry Drew said starting small forward Marvin Williams could miss up to two weeks because of the knee injury he suffered Wednesday at Detroit. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Marvin Williams, Injuries 

An MRI on Thursday showed that Williams has a bone bruise and is day-to-day, the Hawks said. The team also could be without guard Jamal Crawford, who missed the Pistons game after suffering a toe injury Tuesday at Cleveland. Crawford said Thursday the injury hadn't improved much. “It’s day-to-day,” he said. “It depends on how it feels when I wake up [Friday]." Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Marvin Williams, Injuries 

Starter Marvin Williams suffered a right knee injury Wednesday and was ruled out. Mo Evans (knee) will miss his fourth consecutive game. That's the complete list of Hawks small forwards. “It puts us in a little bit of a dilemma,” Hawks coach Larry Drew said Thursday. Williams was hurt during a collision in the fourth quarter of the Hawks' 94-85 victory against Detroit. He limped into the locker room Thursday but said he hoped to return soon. “I’m doing OK,” he said. “Still the same as last night. It’s really sore. I’m getting treatment the next couple days and hopefully shoot for Sunday [against Phoenix]. I’m young. I always heal fast.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Marvin Williams, Injuries 

Al Horford: Doctor Marvin http://plixi.com/p/54255573 Twitter

Atlanta Hawks, Marvin Williams, Halloween 

Marvin took some time to think this summer. He went back to Chapel Hill and continued work on his African-American Studies degree (”Probably three more summers to go,” he said). He recently played host to a local bowling event for Special Olympics, an organization he’s volunteered with since he was a sophomore in high school. Before that, Marvin went to Dakar, Senegal, with the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program. “The people were great,” he said. “The people were so nice. They made something out of literally nothing. Those guys are out there playing on dirt courts. It was 120 degrees, it felt like. Super humid. They are out there exercising, working on their game.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Marvin Williams 

For the first part of this summer, everywhere Marvin went he got different variations of the same question. What the heck happened to the Hawks in that series against the Magic? “Early in the summer [he heard it] but, after a while, people started to get ready for football season, thankfully,” Marvin said today after informal workouts at Philips. “But, God, the first month, month-and-a-half, it was: ‘Yo, what happened?’ Dude, you were watching the games. You tell me what happened?” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Marvin Williams 

The Knicks' quest for Portland's Rudy Fernandez, however, remains on hold through the weekend. Their inability to send the Blazers a first-round pick until 2014 is a likely sticking point. Bergen Record

There was a report of a possible sign-and-trade with O'Neal, who played for the Cavaliers last season, going from the Cavaliers to the Hawks for forward Marvin Williams. But that was shot down by the source, saying the Hawks expressed no desire to trade one of their starters. FanHouse.com

Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Free Agency, Trade, Shaquille O'Neal, Marvin Williams 

There’s nothing to the rumors about a Shaq-for-Marvin sign-and-trade being close to going down. It seems an Atlanta radio station reported “unconfirmed rumors” that were the same unconfirmed rumors that were out there yesterday and had already been shot down. A Cleveland radio station picked up the Atlanta station’s rumors, and then the Atlanta station started citing the Cleveland station. This circular, inaccurate reporting all led to one of the best tweets of all time. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Free Agency, Trade, Shaquille O'Neal, Marvin Williams 

As previously believed, ESPN radio in Atlanta is reporting the #Cavs are close to sending Shaq to the Hawks for Marvin Williams in S&T. Twitter

Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Trade, Shaquille O'Neal, Marvin Williams 

There were also various reports Wednesday that the Cavs were talking to the Atlanta Hawks about trading for small forward Marvin Williams. According to league sources, the Hawks are motivated to trade Williams and have been looking for takers and also have some interest in Shaquille O'Neal. Cleveland Plain Dealer

Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Trade, Shaquille O'Neal, Marvin Williams 

The Cleveland Cavaliers' pursuit of Hawks swingman Marvin Williams centers at the moment on trying to convince the Hawks to do a sign-and-trade deal that would send Shaquille O'Neal to Atlanta, according to a league source. The Hawks do have an interest in the 38-year-old O'Neal, who is not likely to return to Cleveland next season. But Atlanta has budget limitations after agreeing to give guard Joe Johnson a $124 million max contract, with ownership unlikely to approve a deal for O'Neal or any other backup center that goes much above the veteran minimum. The Hawks are also interested in free agent center Brad Miller and Bucks free agent center Kurt Thomas. NBA.com

Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Trade, Shaquille O'Neal, Marvin Williams 

Assuming Shaq gets the two-year deal he wants, Atlanta’s savings would total the difference between their salaries over the next two seasons plus the final two seasons of Marvin’s deal (assuming he exercises his option year) For 2010-11, the Hawks’ savings would be the difference between the $6.7 million owed Marvin and Shaq’s new salary. For 2011-12, the savings would be Marvin’s $7.5 million salary minus Shaq’s salary. Shaq and Marvin would both be off the books in 2012-13, when Marvin makes $8.3 million, and the Hawks wouldn’t be on the hook for Marvin’s $7.5 million option in 2013-14. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Trade, Shaquille O'Neal, Marvin Williams 

Since this is all premature talk at this point, I won’t get into how the Hawks would go about replacing Marvin in the lineup. The Hawks still aren’t sure if Shaq would be a good fit even if he is willing to take less than the mid-level. Also, Marvin still has support within the organization, with the hope that L.D.’s new system will make a big difference in his production. As for Aldridge’s contention that the Hawks aren’t willing to pay much more than the minimum due to “budget limitations,” all I can tell you is that everything I’ve heard suggests they are willing to exceed the luxury-tax threshold for the right player(s). I get the feeling that player isn’t Shaq. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Trade, Shaquille O'Neal, Marvin Williams 

Sam Amico: According to source, Cavs would be targeting Marvin Williams and Josh Childress (at least). Josh Smith supposedly not available. Twitter

Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Trade, Josh Childress, Marvin Williams, Josh Smith 

The Hawks are reportedly shopping Marvin Williams, and the Warriors were mentioned in the grapevine as a potential suitor. But multiple sources told me the there is nothing to it. Golden State had conversations about Williams a while ago. But they aren’t in the market for a PF, after drafting Ekpe Udoh, especially not one on the books for $30 million over the next four seasons. (Personally, I’d much rather trade for Josh Smith, who has three years, $37M left. Since the Hawks are giving Joe Johnson the max, and they still have to re-up Al Horford next offseason, they might be willing to move Josh.) Contra Costa Times

Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, Trade, Marvin Williams