The Hawks have waived Quinn Cook, Jeremy Evans and Tyler Cavanaugh, Bobby Marks of ESPN writes. The moves were required in order to create cap space to take on Richard Jefferson and Kay Felder.
Cook, a Duke product that suited up for both the Mavs and Pelicans last season, was signed by Atlanta in early September. Evans, a six-year NBA veteran and long-time Jazz forward was signed on later in the month.
The Hawks could potentially see all three players end up with their G League team in Erie, the first two with returning rights and undrafted rookie Cavanaugh as an affiliate player.
Atlanta will incur a $100K cap hit on Cook and another $50K on Evans but all were on non-guaranteed deals with opening day – and its inherent 15-player roster limit – looming.
The moves actually bring Atlanta’s roster down to 15 players but the additions of Jefferson and Felder will obviously push them back over until they’re themselves waived, which is expected.
Had the opportunity to land a pair of second-round picks by eating the Cavaliers’ unwanted contracts not fallen in their lap, it’s plausible that the Hawks could have carried Cook into the regular season. Shortly after the point guard was brought aboard by Atlanta we wrote about the opportunity in front of him.