Hawks Obtain Predrag Drobnjak From Charlotte

• Predrag Drobnjak profile

ATLANTA, GA -- (August 16, 2004) The Atlanta Hawks have obtained veteran center/forward Predrag “Peja” Drobnjak from the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for a 2005 second-round draft pick (from the New York Knicks), according to Hawks’ General Manager Billy Knight.
“With his NBA and international background, Peja is an experienced and physical big man who can also shoot the ball from the perimeter,” Knight said. “He has a good feel for the game and strong work ethic. We’re pleased to add him to our roster.”
Drobnjak is currently playing for the Serbian and Montenegro team in the Olympics in Athens, Greece. In an 83-82 loss to Argentina yesterday, Drobnjak played nine minutes off the bench, totalling 5 points (2-2 FGs) and a rebound.
The Bobcats agreed to select the 6-foot-11 Drobnjak (pronounced DROB-nee-ack) in the June 22 NBA Expansion draft, as part of a trade with the Clippers that gave Charlotte the second overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft in exchange for the fourth and 33rd selections.
Last season, Drobnjak played in 61 games (14 starts) for the Clippers, averaging 6.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per contest (39.3% FGs, 30.6% 3FGs, 84.9% FTs). He scored in double figures 17 times, hitting 20 or more four times. He was acquired by the Clippers from Seattle on September 28, 2003.
In 2002-03, he was the only Sonic to appear in all 82 games (started 69), and averaged a career-best 9.4 ppg and 3.9 rpg (41.2% FGs, 35.3% 3FGs, 79.1% FTs). He logged 36 double-digit games, and scored 20 or more six times. He also played for Seattle in 2001-02, when he put in 6.8 ppg and 3.4 rpg (46.1% FGs, 75.3% FTs) in 64 games.
A member of the Yugoslavian national team that won the gold medal at the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis, Drobnjak was originally selected by Washington in the second round (49th overall) of the 1997 NBA Draft. He was sent by the Wizards to the Sonics for the draft rights to Bobby Simmons on June 27, 2001.
Drobnjak has further international experience, having played for the Serbian and Montenegro team in the Eurobasket 2003, and in Turkey from 1998-2001. He also was a member of three Yugoslavian national championship teams (1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97). Drobnjak began his professional career in 1992, playing for Partizan Beograd (Belgrade) through 1998.