Former Atlanta Hawks power forward Mike Scott was cleared Tuesday by a Georgia court of charges in a felony drug case, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.
Scott and his brother Antonn were arrested at a routine traffic stop in July 2015 after police said they found marijuana and MDMA in the Scotts’ car. Ultimately, the judge ruled that there was insufficient reason for the Scotts’ vehicle to be stopped, the search was conducted improperly, and there was no probable cause for the brothers to be arrested. Mike Scott’s counsel told Wojnarowski that the ordeal “could be the worst case of racial profiling [he] has ever seen” in his 35 years as an attorney.
Scott played five seasons with the Hawks, averaging 7.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and shooting 46.0 percent from the field. He last suited up for Atlanta on February 15, eight days before the Hawks traded him to the Phoenix Suns, who then waived him the following day. Scott’s best NBA season came in 2013/2014, when he averaged 9.6 PPG and 3.6 RPG on 47.9% shooting in 80 games (18.5 MPG).
The dismissal of charges in Scott’s case will presumably speed up his return to the NBA, as teams reportedly have been awaiting a conclusion to the case.
But teams aren’t scared off by the fact that the drugs were still in the car… even if seized illegally…
If it were during a season where he’s under contract but I wouldn’t judge him for a lil weed and a party drug during the time he’s in career limbo.
If Matt Barnes can frequent night clubs, drink and get into altercations DURING the season then this should be no big deal at all.