Peachtree Hoops: Pape Sy Likely Headed to the Utah Flash of the NBA D-League Later This Week

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More photos » Bill Kostroun - AP

6 months ago: NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver, left, poses with Pape Sy, of France, who was selected 53rd overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the second round of the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 24, 2010, in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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In yesterday's pre-game blog post, Michael Cunningham reported that the Atlanta Hawks would assign second round draft pick Pape Sy to the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League sometime this week. While the move has yet to be confirmed by the Flash, it appears that the move is imminent. The Flash don't play again until January 1st so it is very likely that Sy will join the team a few days before so that he can get a few practices under his belt before their first game. 

The move is unprecedented in Hawks history as they have never really utilized the D-League short of a brief assignment a few years ago for Thomas Gardner and Othello Hunter. At this time there is no reason to expect Sy's stay in the D-League to be brief with no glaring need for him in Atlanta. 

Coach Drew had this to say about Sy recently:

"I think it would suit him better to play than to sit around and practice all the time," Drew said on Monday. "He needs some playing experience."

We will be covering Sy's assignment with the Flash in its entirety with updates on his progress. Early reports since Sy began practicing are that he has shown the same promise that the Hawks saw from him in pre-draft workouts and Summer League. The biggest hurdle for Sy has been avoiding injury. Sy missed most of Summer League with an Achilles injury and has missed significant time since training camp with a back injury. 

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