Report: Hawks make two more signings, including star player’s brother

Jalen Johnson has company.

After reportedly agreeing to a two-way contract with Eli John Ndiaye, the Hawks are lining up their third and final two-way signing as well as an unguaranteed offseason contract — incidentally with the brother of a star Hawks player.

First, former San Diego State University and Kentucky guard Lamont Butler is rumored to agree with the team on a two-way contract:

After four seasons with SDSU in the Mountain West, Lamont Butler transferred to blue blood Kentucky for a super senior season. There he averaged 11.4 points and 4.3 assists per game, but his calling card is his on-ball defense. The 6’2” guard was named the 2023-24 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and proved he belong in the SEC in 2024-25, far and away the tougher college conference in the nation.

Butler joins Ndiaye and Daeqwon Plowden as the third of three possible two-way contract slots. Those contracts come with a small guarantee (below $100,000) so it’s not out of the question for there to be further movement there, but for now that trio looks likely to join the Summer League Hawks in Las Vegas.

Joining the team in Vegas will also likely be the brother of a notable Hawks player. Kobe Johnson will reportedly sign an Exhibit 10 contract:

Kobe Johnson is the 22-year-old younger brother of Jalen, whom the Hawks drafted 20th overall back in 2021.

Johnson averaged 9.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in his final three college seasons as a starter at both the University of Southern California and UCLA. Kobe Johnson is a 6’5” wing with athleticism, defense and shooting upside beyond the familial connection, so the Hawks will look to tap into that upside this offseason and hopefully beyond.