The Hawks intend to send John Jenkins and Adreian Payne on an NBA Development League assignment Friday. The move will give the little-used players needed game action.
Jenkins and Payne will be assigned to Fort Wayne, the Hawks’ D-League affiliate. The Mad Ants play six games in 10 days beginning Friday. Both are expected to travel Thursday evening.
Jenkins has appeared in just one game this season. He scored 12 points, on 5 of 10 shooting, against the Cavaliers on Nov. 15. The third-year guard is returning from offseason back surgery but has not been a part of the Hawks’ rotation. The shooting guard is healthy but has been inactive in eight of the Hawks’ 13 games.
Jenkins, a first-round pick in 2012, was limited to just 13 games last season with back problems that eventually required surgery in February.
Payne, this year’s first-round draft pick, has yet to play this season. He has been inactive in 12 of 13 games, including the first five of the season with plantar fasciitis in his left foot.
Payne returned from a two-game stint with Fort Wayne on Sunday. In games Friday and Saturday, he averaged 12.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 blocks in 31.0 minutes. Payne started the second game for the Mad Ants at center.
“It went good,” Payne said following the Hawks loss to the Raptors Wednesday. “It was good for me to go down there and play, get some game reps. That is the main thing, trying to get back in game flow. If you haven’t played in a while you get rusty.”
Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said before Wednesday’s game that he got a good report from Payne’s outing.
“A lot of positives,” he said. “Just like anything, you also see areas where he can work and improve. I think it was a good experience for him overall.
“For our young players and players who aren’t getting a chance to play in games, I really do believe getting them playing time and playing opportunities is important. The D-League can be invaluable in that way.”
Fort Wayne hosts Delaware Friday. The remainder of the upcoming schedule includes at Sioux Falls Saturday, vs. Iowa (Dec. 2), at Maine (Dec. 4), at Canton (Dec. 6) and vs. Westchester (Dec. 7).
The Mad Ants also recently signed former Hawk Dahntay Jones, who is expected to debut Friday.
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