John Jenkins has focused on his back injury rather than his contract status of late.
The Hawks exercised their third-year option on the shooting guard late Thursday, keeping the first-round pick in the fold at least through next season.
“I feel really good,” Jenkins said when asked about having his option picked up. “I feel relieved. I wasn’t stressing too much about it. I’ve been trying to get back from my injury. … I’m excited to continue playing here. I’m looking forward to it.”
Jenkins will receive $1.3 million in the third year of his rookie contract next season. The Hawks also have a team option on the guard for the 2015-16 season at $2.2 million and the right to make a qualifying offer for the 2016-17 season.
Jenkins missed two months this summer with a back injury. It flared during training camp, and he missed all but the final two exhibition games. He did not play in Wednesday’s season opener at the Mavericks. Jenkins said there are no issues with his back.
“It’s feeling good,” Jenkins said. “It’s been a long two months for me. It’s been frustrating being in training camp and playing really well and then missing the whole preseason and practices. I’m just working my way back up.”
The Hawks did not exercise their third-year option on Jared Cunningham. The guard, obtained in a draft-day trade with the Mavericks in June, will become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
“It’s a business,” Cunningham said. “I’m just going to continue to play basketball. I’m here for this year. … I’m doing what I love to do, playing basketball. I’m wearing a Hawks uniform, and I’m going to continue representing the Hawks.”
Jenkins and Cunningham were available for the season opener, but did not play.
Teague-Schroder combination: Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer plans to use point guards Jeff Teague and Dennis Schroder at the same time this season. The two were on the court together for 7 minutes, 45 seconds against the Mavericks, in part to counter Monta Ellis and Jose Calderon.
“We want to look at that paring and get them on the court together,” Budenholzer said. “It helps if the other team has some quick, smaller guards, but I think we will experiment with it some regardless of the other team. One of the things that we have talked about is we want to do what we do and put the focus on us and play our way. That is going to include Jeff and Dennis playing together.”
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