Hawks waive Edy Tavares, sign forward Ryan Kelly

Atlanta Hawks center Edy Tavares, the franchise’s 7-foot-3 second-round pick in the 2014 draft, was released on Monday.

The Hawks requested waivers on the 24-year-old big man and filled his roster spot by signing 6-foot-11 forward Ryan Kelly, who participated in training camp and played with Atlanta during preseason. Kelly will be in uniform Monday night against the Kings.

The move comes in advance of Mike Scott undergoing non-surgical procedures on his left knee that will cost him around four weeks.

Tavares was widely viewed as the final inclusion on the Hawks roster after being selected as a long-term project two years ago. After spending one year overseas and another bouncing between the Hawks bench and the NBA D-League, the Hawks will walk away from the Maio, Cape Verde product after just 11 regular-season games played.

Kelly played three NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 6.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He provides a more skillful offensive presence on Atlanta's bench, particularly in the shooting department left void by Scott's absence.