Hawks forward signs with team in Greece

ATLANTA, July 23 (UPI) -- Atlanta Hawks swingman Josh Childress has signed a five-year, multimillion-dollar contract to play for a professional basketball team in Greece.

The 6-foot-8 guard/forward played in 285 NBA games after the Hawks made him a first-round pick in the 2004 NBA draft out of Stanford.

His pro career averages were 11.1 points and 5.6 rebounds, including 11.8 points and 4.9 rebounds in 76 contests last season.

"We have a great deal of respect for Josh and appreciate his contributions to our franchise," General Manager Rick Sund said in a statement on the Hawks' Web site. "We were very comfortable when we began this process that if Josh were to play in the NBA, he would remain with the Hawks. This is a unique situation with Greece, and to my knowledge it is believed to be the highest contract ever awarded in Euroleague history."