THE Atlanta Hawks agreed Monday to a four-year, US$65 million contract extension with guard Kevin Huerter, locking up another important player from the team that made a surprising run to the Eastern Conference final. Huerter was the last piece in the Hawks’ offseason list of priorities, working out the rookie-scale extension shortly before Monday’s 6 p.m. deadline. ESPN first reported the deal, which begins with the 2022-23 season, and Hawks confirmed it in an evening news release. “It was important to our group to secure Kevin as a part of our team moving forward,” general manager Travis Schlenk said. “He’s developed into a versatile, two-way player who can fit any lineup and can play minutes all over the perimeter. We are excited his future is in Atlanta.” The 23-year-old Huerter was the No. 19 overall pick in the 2018 draft that also brought Trae Young to Atlanta. Huerter’s role has steadily grown over his three years in the league. Last season, the player averaged 11.9 points, 3.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds and a team-leading 1.2 steals while starting 49 of 69 games. He saved his best performance for the playoffs, scoring 27 points in a Game 7 victory over the top-seeded 76ers in Philadelphia to cap a stunning upset in the conference semifinals.(SD-Agencies) | 