Atlanta Hawks: Kwame Brown off the board

Re-u-nited and it feels so . . . strange.

Another free-agent center off the board for the Hawks as Kwame Brown joined up with Charlotte. Brown’s agent told ESPN.com’s Marc Stein that Brown signed with the Bobcats for the veteran’s minimum

For those who still care to keep track, that narrows down the list of free-agent centers the Hawks are known to have some degree of interest in to Francisco Elson, Brian Skinner and Josh Boone.

Atlanta had some interest in Brown, who is the second center to opt to sign elsewhere for the same money–and it’s not like he’s chasing a ring or something like Shaq. Brown isn’t on strong Shaq’s level, of course, and it never seemed like the Hawks were that high on him. Still, it’s interesting that he decided to reunite with MJ and play for Larry Brown.

Agent Mark Bartelstein addressed the Jordan part:

“There’s been so much written about the fact that this was Michael’s first pick [as an executive] and so much criticism directed at both of them when it didn’t work out. When that happens you can do one of two things. You can run from all that or you can use it as motivation. What better way to try to turn your career around than to go back to where it all started?

“There were a lot of easier places Kwame could have gone, a lot of safer places. I think this says a lot about his competitive instinct and fire that he wanted to take on this challenge.”

– Still nothing to report on Pape Sy’s buyout or Jamal’s extension. Rick Sund is on vacation.

– Jamal got some love in this Seattle Times piece by Mason Kelley, whom I know from my days in South Florida. I can confirm Mason has a nice jumper but could probably use help from Jamal on his crossover.

– Terry Mosher of the Kitsap Sun (dope newspaper name) reports the Marvin Williams Center is planned to open in Bremerton, Wash., in 2012.

MC