Hawks recall Walter Tavares, Lamar Patterson from D-League to NBA
Atlanta's Walter Tavares has floated back and forth between the NBA D-League and the NBA this season. Now, he finds himself back with the Hawks.
ROSTER UPDATE: @LP21_ and @waltertavares22 have been recalled from the @nbadleague.
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 17, 2016
Earlier this week, Tavares recorded 23 points with 20 rebounds and 3 blocks during 25 minutes of action while on assignment for the Austin Spurs. His teammate Lamar Patterson, who also was recalled to the NBA roster for the Hawks, recorded 20 points with 9 assists and 5 rebounds in the game as well.
Highlights from Edy Tavares' 23 point, 20 rebound performance in the D-League https://t.co/ixKrCal9vK pic.twitter.com/lnynjpFcHi
— Peachtree Hoops (@peachtreehoops) January 15, 2016
Both Tavares and Patterson were most recently assigned to the Developmental League on January 13. But their connections don't end there. They were also both drafted in the 2nd round of the 2014 NBA Draft. Additionally, Tavares and Patterson both played in Europe last season. Now, they both try to land a more permanent role in the NBA.
"I'll try to work on the speed of the game," said Tavares, in a report via NBA.com. "Here it is more fast and up and down. In Spain the system, I come (down) on offense and everybody stands on offense in their location in the system. Here it's different. It's like up and down. It's fast."
He's played seven NBA games this season. He averages 2.7 points per game with 2.1 rebounds and 0.7 blocks over 7.7 minutes per game. He's 8-of-15 (.533%) from the field. Lamar Patterson, meanwhile, averages 2.7 points with 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists. Less effective, Patterson is shooting 26-of-71 (.366%) with more minutes: 12.8 per game over 28 games.
Lamar Patterson @LP21_ is finding his way in the @NBA
https://t.co/jqXDf2Q01J pic.twitter.com/LHsVmhonxC
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 10, 2016
“He’s a player that fits very well with us,’’ said Atlanta's coach Mike Budenholzer, via LancasterOnline.com. “It’s kind of generic or cliché, but he just really knows how to play. If you can (do) that to another level, he does. He just makes passes, sees things, has vision, IQ, really on both ends of the court.’’
Both struggled to find minutes while on the NBA roster during their last stint. Patterson has played more than 13:00 minutes just once since December 13. Tavares has only played more than 13:00 minutes one game (January 3) during his young career.
Bryan Kalbrosky produces digital content for FOX Sports. For more, follow him on Twitter @BryanKalbrosky.
