A letter summarizing the investigation by the Atlanta law firm Alston & Bird, obtained Saturday by The Associated Press, said Ferry showed no “negative bias toward Mr. (Luol) Deng, his race or his country of origin.”
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Alston & Bird partner Bernard Taylor said in the letter, dated Friday, that the evidence confirmed Ferry was repeating statements from a scouting report, and not using his own words to describe Deng.
Ferry was placed on indefinite leave as general manager in September after a tape was released of him saying racially insensitive remarks in a a June 6 conference call with team owners.
The Hawks agreed to a buyout of the final two years of Ferry’s contract on Friday.
