Hawks sign Patterson to second 10-day contract (updated)

Hawks’ Lamar Patterson battles 76ers’ Isaiah Canaan for the ball during the second half in a basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Hawks’ Lamar Patterson battles 76ers’ Isaiah Canaan for the ball during the second half in a basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

The Hawks signed Lamar Patterson to a second 10-day contract Wednesday. The first deal with the guard/forward expired Tuesday.

The second 10-day contract will expire Feb. 17 as the Hawks are in the All-Star break. Patterson will be eligible for four games, including tonight’s home contest against the Nuggets.

“There is a level of comfort in knowing Lamar,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “His body is in a good place. He is taking care of himself, taking his conditioning and his fitness to another level. I think he’s a very gifted passer, a very gifted decision maker. …

“The feedback from his teammates, feedback from the assistant coaches and drills, 3-on-3’s and 4-on-4’s, we are very happy with him.”

Patterson appeared in three games in this first stint with a total of six points and four rebounds in 20 minutes.

The Hawks obtained Patterson on draft night in 2014 after he was a second-round pick of the Bucks at No. 48 overall. He played one season in Turkey for Tofas Bursa. He joined the Hawks the following season and appeared in 35 games and averaged 2.4 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 11.3 minutes. The Hawks waived Patterson this summer and he was claimed by the Kings.

Before re-joining the Hawks, Patterson played this season for the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League where he has put up impressive numbers. In 28 games, he averaged 24.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.0 steals in 35.8 minutes. He ranked fourth in the D-League in scoring, 12th in assists and tied for 12th in steals.