Hawks name Rick Sund general manager

ATLANTA, May 28 (UPI) -- Former Seattle SuperSonics General Manager Rick Sund was hired Wednesday to fill the same position with the Atlanta Hawks.

He succeeds Billy Knight, who has announced his intention to resign effective July 1 after a six-year run.

Sund, 56, was the Sonics' GM before he was their consultant last season.

He has more than 30 years NBA experience, including stints with the Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks.

"Rick has an enormous amount of experience, and an outstanding reputation around the league," Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon said on the Hawks' Web site. "Our objective was to add an individual who would help us take the momentum we gained last season, and move to the next level. We feel we've done that, and we're thrilled to add someone of Rick's caliber to our franchise."

"I'm very excited and impressed with what the Hawks have currently developed," Sund said from the NBA pre-draft camp in Orlando, Fla.