The Hawks recalled Adreian Payne from his current NBA Development League assignment Saturday. The team also assigned Mike Muscala to Fort Wayne and the center is expected to play for the team tonight at Canton.
John Jenkins will remain on assignment.
Payne, this year’s first-round pick, has done two stints with Fort Wayne. In six games, including five starts, Payne has averaged 13.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 31.3 minutes. On his latest assignment of four games, the forward/center has averaged 14.3 points and 10.8 rebounds. The rookie from Michigan State has yet to appear in an NBA game.
Muscala, a second-round pick last year, has played sparingly this season. He has appeared in five games and averaged 4.6 points and 2.2 rebounds in 10.6 minutes. Muscala played eight minutes in Friday’s win at the Nets and had two points and three rebounds. As with the assignments of Payne and Jenkins, the Hawks want Muscala to get playing time to continue his development. He has been behind Al Horford, Pero Antic and Elton Brand in the team’s rotation at center.
The Hawks roster remains at 13 players.
Jenkins, a first-round pick in 2012, will remain with Fort Wayne at least through the weekend. In four games on this assignment, Jenkins has averaged a team-high 20.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 25 minutes.
Following tonight’s game at Canton, Fort Wayne will host Westchester Sunday. They are not scheduled to play again until Friday at home against Grand Rapids.
