The Hawks will be without Tiago Splitter for at least six more weeks after an MRI revealed a Grade 2 strain in his right calf, Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Injuries caused Splitter to miss 46 games last season and he has yet to suit up this year.
“There is nobody more disappointed than me,” Splitter said. “I’m tough. I’m tough. Maybe the first day I was sad but the next day I’m already positive and thinking about positive progress each day. That is the mindset you have to have when you are injured.”
The Spurs traded Splitter to the Hawks during the 2015 offseason in order to create the necessary cap space to offer LaMarcus Aldridge a max contract. Splitter has had trouble staying on the court during his career, missing at least 22 games in every season but one. He’ll make $8.5MM this year before becoming a free agent in July.