Willis back with Hawks

Veteran centre Kevin Willis has re-joined Atlanta - the team where he began his NBA career 20 years ago.

The 42-year-old, was selected 11th overall by the Hawks in the 1984 NBA Draft and played in 724 games over 11 seasons with the franchise, averaging 14.5 points and 10.0 rebounds.

"To be back where I started my career with is wonderful, and I hope to do whatever I can to try and bring more excitement and positive energy to the team," he said.

Willis has played 1,390 career games, trailing only Karl Malone among active players.

The seven-footer spent the last two seasons with San Antonio, collecting a championship ring in 2002.

Willis has career averages of 12.3 points and 8.5 rebounds in a career that has also included stints with Miami, Golden State, Houston, Toronto and Denver.

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He played just under eight minutes per game, averaging 3.4 points and 2.0 rebounds in 48 contests last season with the Spurs.

Willis remains the top rebounder in Hawks history.

His best season in Atlanta came in 1991-92, when he averaged 18.3 points and 15.5 rebounds a game and made the Eastern Conference All-Star Team.

Seattle have signed 30-year-old Turkish guard Ibrahim Kutluay to help fill the void left by free agent Brent Barry, who has joined San Antonio.

Kutluay, the captain of Turkey's national team, scored 19 and 26 points in exhibition games against the USA leading up to the Athens Olympics.

Washington guard Steve Blake has undergone right ankle surgery and will be out of action for 10-12 weeks.