Alright, so the name Malik Williams might not immediately ring a bell for every Raptors fan, but he’s still a team alum and he's joining a new NBA franchise.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported on X: "The Atlanta Hawks and Malik Williams have agreed to a deal agent Brian Jungreis of @SerosPartners told @hoopshype."
Ex-Raptors big man Malik Williams joins Atlanta Hawks
Scotto didn’t reveal the details of Williams’ deal with the Hawks. However, Hawks reporter Brad Rowland on X mentioned: "Per source, this will be an Exhibit 10 contract."
The 27-year-old, 6-foot-11 big man, who went undrafted in 2022 out of Louisville, got his first real experience with an NBA main roster when he signed with Toronto in late April 2024. He initially signed a 10-day contract with the Raptors, then ended up signing for the rest of the season to finish out the 2023-24 campaign.
Before that, he spent some time with the Miami Heat's G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. There, Williams averaged 11.1 points with a 43.6% field goal percentage, 32.0% from three, along with 9.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.2 blocks.
Williams' time with the Raptors didn't exactly make a huge impact. He appeared in just seven games for the team and didn't put up many notable stats — averaging only 2.7 points per game on 26.5% shooting. During that stretch, he was on the court for about 15.2 minutes per game.
After that quick, blink-and-you-miss-it Raptors run, Williams went back to the Sioux Falls Skyforce for the 2024-25 G League season. There, he showed some improvements across the board. Malik Williams averaged 16.1 points on 44.9% shooting from the field, with a solid 39.6% from three. He also grabbed 10.2 rebounds, dished out 1.4 assists, and averaged 1.3 steals and 1.4 blocks over 31 games played for the Skyforce.