Josh Smith will miss Wednesday night's game against the Nets. (AP)

The Hawks suspended forward Josh Smith, their top scorer, for one game for “conduct detrimental to the team,” general manager Danny Ferry said in a statement on Wednesday. Smith, who will miss Wednesday’s game against the Nets, also was fined an undisclosed amount.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Smith was thrown out of practice on Tuesday. Coach Larry Drew acknowledged that there was “an incident in practice.”

“At that particular point, something had to be done,” Drew said. “I met with Danny afterward, and the rest of the staff, we actually slept on it. We all came back in agreement that we had to take the measure that we did. That we would do it, that would be our stand. After tonight’s game, again, we will embrace Josh once again.”

Smith is averaging 16.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. The Hawks have lost six of their last seven games and seven of their last nine. Before that skid, they were 19-9 with the third-best record in the Eastern Conference.

“Clearly I am competitive and was frustrated by our recent losses,” Smith said in a statement. “I understand and respect the team’s actions and just want to get back on the court to do whatever is necessary to help my teammates. I apologize for letting them down and apologize to our fans for not being available for tonight’s game.”

The Hawks agreed to a multiyear contract with Lou Williams, according to ESPN.com NBA writer Brian Windhorst.

The guard averaged 14.9 points and 3.5 assists in 26.3 minutes with the 76ers last season.

Williams is from Lithonia, Ga., which is fewer than 20 miles outside of Atlanta.

Los Angeles businessman Alex Meruelo has reached an agreement to buy a majority ownership stake in the Hawks, he told the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution over the weekend.

“I will be in complete control of the team,” Meruelo told the paper. Spirit group will maintain minority ownership positions but Meruelo will own more than 50 percent and control ownership decisions. The Hawks will stay in Atlanta.

The deal still needs to be approved the the NBA’s Board of Governors, but if it is finalized Meruelo will become the first Hispanic primary owner of an NBA franchise.

The Hawks lost out to the Celtics in the Shaquille O’Neal derby and are still looking to add a veteran center, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Michael Cunningham. He lists Francisco Elson, Brian Skinner and Josh Boone as possibilities to fulfill that role  off the bench behind All-Star Al Horford. Former first overall draft pick Kwame Brown has been all but ruled out because he is said to be looking for a contract that is worth more than the veteran minimum.