The worst season in Hawks history is finally over. No more twenty-point blowouts to watch; no more half-empty arenas; no more embarrassment when you tell people you write about the Hawks (personal experience). It?s all over.?.at least until next season.

This is the time we?ve all been waiting for?the offseason. Yes, I know the playoffs are going on, but for us die-hard Hawks fans, the offseason speculation is running rampant.

Why are we so excited? It?s simple?all the struggles of this season were for the summer. The reason we cleaned house was to set ourselves up to make a run at some top-notch free agents and potentially land the top pick in the draft. Hawks fans can?t help but think of all the possibilities?the uber-talented line-ups, the free agent signings, trades, draft picks, etc.

The Pistons won their 11th straight game with a little help from an unexpected source, Darko Milicic.

Milicic scored 16 points as Detroit defeated Atlanta by a final score of 95-68.

``I was thrilled,'' Detroit coach Larry Brown said. ``He had a very productive night.''

Josh Smith led the Hawks with 18 points.

The Atlanta Hawks today activated center Kevin Willis, and placed forward James Thomas on the injured list due to back spasms, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Billy Knight. Willis has missed 20 straight games and 28-of-the-last-29 contests due to lower back strain. The 7-foot center has appeared in 28 games this season (4 starts) averaging 2.8 ppg and 2.6 rpg (.383 FG%, .739 FT%).

Thomas has played in two games for the Hawks, averaging 1.0 ppg and 1.0 rpg (1-2 FGs) since signing on April 9. The active roster now stands at 12, with Obinna Ekezie (left shoulder strain), Al Harrington (tendinitis, right knee) and Thomas on the injured list.

In a veritable ?Clash of the Titans? the Charlotte Bobcats defeated the Atlanta Hawks 105-84 to ensure the Bobcats would not finish with the NBA?s worst record.  

The Hawks fell to 12-66 which clinches the NBA?s worst record in a season so bad that none other than MC Hammer himself will be able to save the season for Hawks fans.

The Atlanta Hawks will have $20 million of cap space to work with this offseason and it is likely that they will target one or more of the young frontcourt players who will be available.

Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry and Samuel Dalembert will lead the class.

The Bulls have said they'll match offers extended to either or both Chandler and Curry.

Atlanta also will be the frontrunners for winning the lottery, but even if they select Andrew Bogut, Chandler, Curry or Dalembert would fit in with their plans.

The Atlanta Hawks today signed free agent forward James Thomas for the remainder of the season, and placed center Obinna Ekezie on the injured list with a strained left shoulder, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Billy Knight.

Thomas has signed three 10-day contracts in the NBA this season, two with Portland (on January 9 and 19) and one with Cleveland (on February 22). While with the Trail Blazers, he appeared in nine games (including 2 starts), averaging 2.7 ppg and 3.9 rpg in 12.4 mpg (.611 FG%, .333 FT%). He didn't see any game action with the Cavaliers, and was waived on February 24. The 6'8" forward snagged 15 rebounds for the Blazers against the Cavs on January 19.

Unanimously selected as the National Basketball Development League's (NBDL) Rookie of the Year on March 30, has played in 36 games (35 starting assignments) with the Roanoke Dazzle, and has averaged 12.4 ppg (17th in the NBDL) and a league-leading 13.3 rpg in 35.4 mpg (.529 FG%, .686 FT%). His field goal percentage placed him fourth in the NBDL, and he has piled up a league-best 20 double-doubles.

Thomas enjoyed an outstanding collegiate career at Texas (where he was a four-year teammate of Hawks guard Royal Ivey), finishing as the all-time leading rebounder in school history with 1,077 boards, and was 18th all-time in scoring with 1,149 career points. Becoming only the second player in school history to record 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds, Thomas posted 28 career double-doubles (fifth in school history). He earned Big 12 All-Defensive Team honors his sophomore and junior seasons.

Ekezie has played in 42 games (starting 31), averaging 5.5 ppg and 4.3 rpg in 17.4 mpg (.434 FG%, .774 FT%). Originally signed to a 10-day contract on January 10, and a second 10-day deal on January 20, the two-year veteran was inked for the remainder of the season on January 31.

Hawks center Obinna Ekezie (left shoulder strain) and forward Tom Gugliotta (groin pull) will miss Friday's game in Toronto.

Yesterday, the Hawks placed Al Harrington (tendinitis, right knee) on the injured list, and activated Michael Stewart.

The Hawks this afternoon placed Al Harrington on the injured list, according to Executive VP/General Manager Billy Knight.  Harrington, who missed the Hawks' recent home game against New Orleans, is suffering from right knee tendonitis, which will cause him to miss at least five games of action.  

The team activated center Michael Stewart to replace Harrington on the active roster.

Hawks forward Al Harrington will not play in tonight's game against the Hornets because of tendinitis in his right knee.  

Tom Gugliotta will replace him in the starting lineup.