Hawks' GM Announces Resignation

Billy Knight will resign as general manager of the Hawks on July 1, after leading the team to its first playoff appearance in nine years.

Knight said yesterday that it was time to "take a break" following a season when his authority appeared to be weakened by unsuccessful lobbying with owners to fire Coach Mike Woodson.

The Hawks lost in the first round to the heavily favored Celtics in seven games.

Over six years, Knight played the lead role in rebuilding the Hawks and ended the NBA's longest playoff drought, though his record on player acquisitions is mixed.

One of the team's owners, Michael Gearon Jr., told the Associated Press, "Frankly, this was not a decision by us, it was a decision by Billy." Gearon said he had no list of candidates to replace Knight "because this was unexpected."

Also yesterday, the NBA suspended Hawks F Marvin Williams for one game without pay for committing a flagrant foul on Rajon Rondo in Atlanta's Game 7 loss in Boston. Williams will miss next season's opener.

· BYNUM MIGHT NEED SURGERY: Lakers C Andrew Bynum might undergo exploratory arthroscopic surgery on his injured left knee if there is no significant improvement in the next three to four weeks.

· MCGRADY RECUPERATES: Rockets G Tracy McGrady could need three months to recover following operations on his knee and shoulder.

"I don't expect these issues to impact his ability to prepare for the upcoming season," said team physician Tom Clanton, who operated on McGrady's knee on Tuesday.

· NETS' JEFFERSON CHARGED: New Jersey F Richard Jefferson was charged with assault yesterday for grabbing another man by the throat in a Minneapolis club in January.

· PACERS NAME GM: Indiana promoted David Morway, who had been senior vice president of basketball operations, to general manager.

-- From News Services