ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks have selected Walter Tavares, a 7-foot-3, 265-pound center from Spain, with the 43rd overall pick in Thursday night’s NBA draft.

Tavares, 22, averaged 6.0 points and 6.6 rebounds last season for Gran Canarias.

It’s possible that Tavares, the 13th pick of the second round, will spend next season playing overseas. The Hawks used the same approach last season with Brazilian center Lucas Nogueira, who played in Spain as a first-round draft pick.

Hawks general manager Danny Ferry said this week that it’s too early to tell if Nogueira will be ready to help the team this year. He will play in the NBA summer league in Las Vegas.

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