On Feb. 12, when DeAndre' Bembry was set to return from a groin injury that had him on the shelf for most of six weeks, Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer cited "the most fundamental thing" necessary for Bembry to salvage his second NBA season.
“I think he’s got to take care of himself and find a way to stay healthy,” Budenholzer said.
Three games later Bembry was back on the injured list, and that’s where he’s remained. All indications are that Bembry won’t play again this season -- there are just seven games left -- in which case it will end with just 21 games and 364 minutes played.
Two weeks ago, Bembry told The AJC’s Chris Vivlamore that he still hoped to play again this season but only if he were fully healthy. It appears that won’t happen until the offseason, setting up an important summer for Bembry’s future with the Hawks.
Before this season, the Hawks exercised Bembry’s 2018-19 contract option for $1.63 million. If Bembry still is on the roster in October, the Hawks will have to decide whether to exercise his 2019-20 option for $2.6 million.
If that time comes general manager Travis Schlenk won’t have much to go on in terms of Bembry’s pay in NBA games. The Hawks have added Antonius Cleveland and Jaylen Morris as developmental wings, meaning more competition for Bembry. The Hawks could add more wings in the next draft, when they will have as many as three first-round picks.
(Bembry's arrest last month for allegedly racing his car on I-85 also didn't help his status.)
Bembry, the No. 21 pick in the 2016 draft, has played just 735 minutes over two seasons. Bembry has shot the ball poorly (46 effective field-goal percentage). His flashes of play-making ability this season were offset by a high turnover rate —Bembry too often lost the ball on wild drives into the lane.
This season was to be a leap forward for Bembry after he didn’t play much as a rookie. During training camp, he said he was excited about taking on a bigger role. Budenholzer’s renewed emphasis on space-and-pace offense seemed to be a good sign for Bembry.
But Bembry’s bad injury luck started with a right triceps strain suffered during the preseason. Bembry made it back to the court to play three exhibition games only to suffer a right wrist fracture during the regular-season opener.
Budenholzer attributed that injury to bad luck. But the coach’s declaration that Bembry has “got to take care of himself” suggested that the player’s other injuries could be attributed in part to a lack of maintenance.
After the wrist injury, Bembry ended up at Erie of the G League after a brief unproductive sting with the Hawks. Bembry played three games for Erie before developing problems with his left groin and sitting out nearly three weeks.
Bembry played 13 minutes for Erie in a Jan. 19 game and went back to the injured list with what the Hawks said was Grade 1 strain to his left adductor muscle. That injury that still has Bembry on the sidelines at the end of a disappointing season.
