With the Hawks’ first exhibition game Wednesday, the battle for the 15th roster spot will begin in earnest. Several Hawks veterans singled out Lamar Patterson when asked about the competition Monday. Al Horford, Jeff Teague and Kent Bazemore all mentioned Patterson when poised the question about training camp.
“Everybody is playing hard,” Teague said. “Everybody is playing well. Lamar Patterson is playing well. He’s a skill player, making good shot, making good passes, playing good defense.”
The players don’t have any real say in the matter. That decision belongs to coach Mike Budenholzer and his staff. The Hawks open the preseason against the Cavaliers in Cincinnati on Wednesday. They then travel to play the Pelicans in Jacksonville, Fla.
Budenholzer said he has not yet thought about playing time or rotations in the exhibitions.
“Not really, it’s still a couple days away,” Budenholzer said. “We’ll continue to think about practice (Tuesday) and get through that.”
Patterson is in competition with Terran Petteway, Earl Barron, DeQuan Jones, Edgar Sosa and Arsalan Kazemi. The Hawks will lose the rights to any player who does not make the team. That includes Patterson, a 2014 second-round selection obtain in a draft night trade.
Bazemore said he has encouraged several of the players in competition to continue to work hard. More opportunities can come down the road. Bazemore should know. He spent time with several teams before signing with the Hawks last summer.
“It’s going to be tough,” Bazemore said. “Whoever does not make it, is still going to have a shot. Those guys show up every day and work hard. …. I know exactly where they are coming from. You are grinding trying to make a team, hotel to hotel, traveling. I’m in their ear all the time. Keep working hard. You are not just trying to make the Atlanta Hawks. Word travels really quickly. The front office can give you a good recommendation.”
In other items from Monday’s practice:
* Thabo Sefolosha was not in attendance as he was in New York City for the start of his trial. The case was adjourned for the day at around 5 p.m. with the jury selected. Opening statements are scheduled for Tuesday morning.
* Michigan men’s basketball coach John Beilein was in attendance at Hawks practice Monday.
* Horford was asked a question about Edy Tavares and said that the center is most often the first player at the arena each day. Horford said he was used to getting in the gym first but Tavares is beating him there.
* The total attendance for Saturday’s open practice at Philips Arena was about 6,600.
