Rider Leaves Hawks, Cites Family Problem

Isaiah Rider, who was late arriving for the Atlanta Hawks’ training camp, will miss the season opener at Washington tonight because of a family medical emergency.

Hawk President Stan Kasten said the team had no other details regarding the situation.

The Hawks announced that forward LaPhonso Ellis will start the season on the injured list after aggravating a calf injury last week.

*

As teams trimmed their rosters to the 12-man limit, the New Jersey Nets put centers Jayson Williams and Evan Eschmeyer and shooting guard Kerry Kittles on the injured list. Williams and Eschmeyer are expected miss a couple of months because of off-season surgery. Kittles is close to returning from knee surgery. . . . The Seattle SuperSonics, who open against the Clippers tonight at Staples Center, put three players on the disabled list. Forward Lazaro Borrell, a Cuban defector, has tendinitis in his right knee. Guard Emanual Davis has a ligament tear in his right index finger and forward Chuck Person has a foot injury. . . . The Golden State Warriors put centers Erick Dampier and Tim Young on the injured list and released were forward Bill Curley, guard/forward Mark Davis and guard John Morton. . . . The Cleveland Cavaliers signed guard Brevin Knight to a contract extension and signed center Benoit Benjamin, cut by the Lakers on Thursday. . . . The Chicago Bulls placed guards B.J. Armstrong and Corey Benjamin and forward/center Lari Ketner on the injured list and waived Rusty LaRue. . . . Center Paul Grant was cut by Milwaukee Bucks, and forward Darvin Ham and guard Rafer Alston were put on the injured list. . . . Philadelphia waived forward Steve Goodrich and put centers Matt Geiger, Theo Ratliff and Stanley Roberts on the injured list. . . . Miami waived Keith Askins.