"General manager Rick Sund said the Hawks are unlikely to pay the luxury tax, a stance that essentially ends the team's chances of re-signing free agent Jamal Crawford.

"It's going to be difficult to sign Jamal in a straight signing transaction," Sund said Sunday. "We are looking at other alternatives, of course. You always look at everything but it's not nearly as easy as if you had four months. Four days instead of four months makes it more it more difficult."

Sund was referring to the shortened free-agent period that follows the end of the lockout last week. Atlanta opens the regular season on Dec. 27."