Schroder won’t play for Germany this summer: Dennis Schroder will not compete for Germany’s national team this summer, the German Basketball Federation announced Wednesday. Germany was to begin qualification play for next year’s EuroBasket 2017 tournament in August. The team made the announcement of Schroder’s withdrawal on social media. -- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Hawks assistant GM Michael Blackstone leaving team: Hawks assistant general manager Michael Blackstone is leaving the organization, according to several people familiar with the situation. Blackstone spent just one season with the Hawks. Blackstone joined the Hawks from the Shapiro Negotiations Institute in Baltimore. He served as the executive vice president/sports practice director. -- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Hawks announce signing of Costello: The Atlanta Hawks announced the signing of undrafted free agent Matt Costello on Tuesday. The two-year minimum contract is guaranteed for $50,000. The team and the 6-foot-9 forward/center from Michigan State agreed to a partially guaranteed contract in June. -- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

How the Omni Coliseum went out with a bang: It was one of Atlanta's most iconic landmarks, until it went up in a cloud of dust on a Saturday morning nineteen years ago. Native Atlantans from the nineties will remember when the Omni Coliseum, the former home of the Atlanta Hawks, was demolished on July 26, 1997. Spectators that gathered to watch 484 pounds of explosives bring the 24-year-old structure crumbling to the ground. -- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Willis facility gives help and hope to children in foster care system: Some children do cry over spilt milk. There are underprivileged youth who can be traumatized by such a simple mistake. Reaching those children, downtrodden by the foster care system, has become the passion of brothers Kevin and Robert Willis and their charity Atlanta Children’s Foundation. They have created The Village, a 150-acre summer camp located in Toccoa, to empower those in foster care with a sense of belonging and the skills to take care of themselves. They refer to it as an experiential learning community. Kevin Willis, the former Hawks player, purchased the property eight years ago and started the non-profit organization in 2002 as a way to give back. -- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution