Efforts by the Atlanta Spirit ownership group to sell a majority stake in the Hawks have accelerated since the group’s sale of the Thrashers last month.

People familiar with the process say representatives of a potential buyer are currently doing due diligence –- examining financial records –- as the process moves toward an anticipated offer and more detailed negotiations for the basketball team and Philips Arena operating rights.

The people familiar with the situation would not identify the potential bidder because of confidentiality agreements, but they described the process as “moving fast.” They said no offer or exclusive negotiating agreement is in place but that the potential bidder, who might have partners, has the financial wherewithal to complete a transaction.

According to one of the people familiar with the talks, the potential buyer is “pushing very, very hard" and has accountants and lawyers working on the matter.

If the NBA lockout is not ended by the scheduled start of the 2011-12 season, Hawks reserve center Zaza Pachulia could end up playing in Turkey in the short term.

Pachulia, who is under contract with the Hawks for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons for a total of about $10 million, said he has a “verbal agreement” to play next season for Turkish club Besiktas.

“They have interest, I have interest and we have talked about price,” Pachulia said. “It’s not official now.”

Besiktas also has an agreement with New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams.

A Turkish website is reporting that Besiktas is close to signing Deron Williams to a contract.

Update: Marc Stein of ESPN has confirmed with sources that Williams intends to play for Besiktas if the lockout continues.

Players under contract have typically needed a letter of clearance from FIBA to play elsewhere, but the Players Association believes they need no such clearance during a work stoppage.

"If they try to stop him," one source said of Williams, "the union will fight it."

Sources tell Stein that Williams will not need to report until August or September and that he will be allowed to leave the club once the lockout is resolved.

Besiktas signed Allen Iverson last offseason to a two-year deal worth $4 million.

Zaza Pachulia will also sign with Besiktas, according to the report.

Williams is scheduled to become a free agent in 2012.