The Hawks listed Marco Belinelli as questionable for Monday afternoon’s home game against the Spurs. However, coach Mike Budenholzer expects the reserve shooting guard to play.
“I would be surprised if he didn’t play tomorrow,” Budenholzer said after practice Sunday afternoon.
Belinelli missed the Hawks’ loss to the Nets on Friday night with a left ankle sprain. It was the first game he had missed this season. Belinelli averages 11.8 points per game and shoots .386 from 3-point range.
Bembry still out
While the Hawks were on a five-game road trip they recalled DeAndre Bembry from the team’s G League affiliate in Erie (Pa.) to rehab a left groin strain. The guard/forward will remain out for the foreseeable future.
“He still has a ways to go,” Budenholzer said. “He’s still in rehab working on his groin.”
The Hawks sent Bembry to Erie to get playing time as he struggled before the assignment. According to Budenholzer, the groin injury had been affecting Bembry.
“I think it’s kind of been bothering him,” Budenholzer said. “It’s been a little bit of a nagging thing and it went past the point of nagging him in a game or a practice (with Erie).”
Plumlee to stay at center
The Hawks turned to Miles Plumlee to start at center when Dewayne Dedmon went down with a left tibia stress reaction in November. Dedmon returned this month after missing 19 games. However, Plumlee has remained in the starting lineup and it appears that may continue.
“I haven’t really gotten to that point,” Budenholzer said when asked about the situation. “I will say that I like Miles starting. I like his size, his physicality, the things he’s been doing. I’m happy with Miles.
“Also, I think Dewayne has been great. The minutes he’s played has been helpful to us. We are going to play all of those guys. It’s hard to play five of those (big) guys, but I’d like to continue to be honest with you.”
Dedmon is averaging 10.7 points and 7.7 rebounds in his 23 games, including 20 starts.
In addition Dedmon, the Hawks also recently got Mike Muscala back after he missed 22 games with a left ankle sprain. Tyler Cavanaugh and John Collins have also been a part of the Hawks’ big-man rotation.
Plumlee has played in 23 games, including 20 starts, and has averaged 5.0 points and 3.9 rebounds.
White on verge of two-way contract
The Hawks are on the verge of signing Andrew White to a two-way contract, Budenholzer confirmed. The deal will likely become official on Monday and White will join Erie in the G League. News of the pending deal was first reported by Yahoo on Sunday.
The Hawks have had an opening for a two-way contract after signing Cavanaugh for the remainder of the season.
“We are excited about adding Andrew White,” Budenholzer said. “His shooting ability and his size, he is someone who could be a part of us and grow with us.”
White has played in 24 games for Maine in the G League and the 6-foot-7, 210-pound forward has averaged 16.0 points and 5.4 rebounds in 34 minutes. He went undrafted out of Syracuse last year.
White’s 45-day NBA clock will be pro-rated since he will sign the two-way deal midseason.
