Hawks Waive Cedric Bozeman

By Bruin Basketball Report

The Atlanta Hawks have waived rookie guard and former UCLA Bruin Cedric Bozeman.

Bozeman played in 23 of 29 games averaging 1.1 points and 1.0 rebound a game.  He started five games at point-guard for the Hawks when Speedy Claxton went down with an injury.

The 6'6 versatile guard-forward made the team as a free-agent training camp invitee.  The coaching staff raved about Bozeman's ability to handle the ball and guard three different positions.

The Hawks would have had to guarantee Bozeman's contract for the remainder of the year if he had stayed on the roster past Jan. 10.

Head Coach Mike Woodson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "We're trying to bring some guys in on 10-days [contracts] and see if we can't jump-start this thing. It's not a knock on Boze. We knew what he could bring to the table. He has a future in our league. But I think he needs to go somewhere he can play. It just won't happen just sitting."

As a red-shirt senior, Bozeman was a key to UCLA's run through the NCAA tournament last season. Playing through various injuries during his senior year, Bozeman played in 31 games averaging 7.6 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 50% from the field.

In an interesting twist to the story, due to an injury to starting small forward Josh Smith who will be out for three weeks, the AJC is reporting former UCLA Bruin Dijon Thompson may be signed by the Hawks to a ten-day contract as early as tomorrow. 

Thompson currently stars for the NBDL's Albuquerque Thunderbirds where he is the league's sixth-leading scorer with 20.3 points and also averages 9.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists. 

The 6'8 Thompson split time with the Albuquerque Thunderbirds and the Phoenix Suns last season.  He played limited minutes for the Suns before injuring his knee which required surgery.  With his contract not guaranteed he was released by the club over the summer. 

Thompson was invited to the Golden State Warrior training camp earlier this year but did not make the team.  He later joined the Albuquerque Thunderbirds at the start of the NBDL season citing a desire to play for Albuquerque's Head Coach Michael Cooper.

(photo credit: AP)