Atlanta Hawks assign point guard Dennis Schröder to Bakersfield Jam

It isn’t often that a mid-1st round pick is demoted to the NBA’s D-League before the end of his first calendar year, but for Atlanta Hawks point guard Dennis Schröder, that has become reality.

Schröder was the 17th pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, but he found himself quickly on the outs with Atlanta head coach Mike Budenholzer, and subsequently, he was passed by on the depth chart by journeyman Shelvin Mack. In 11 games this season, the 20-year-old point guard from Germany is averaging 13.9 minutes, 3.7 points, and 2.5 assists per game, but his shooting his been woeful (35.6% FG, 11.1% from 3) and his turnovers (1.6 per game) have been an issue.

The new assignment could be a positive for Schröder, though, because he should get some additional seasoning on the offensive end. His initial draft comparisons to Rajon Rondo have looked accurate on the defensive end (and using his big-time wingspan), and with some polish on offense, he could be a scary asset even before the age of 21.

Stay tuned for additional updates, but for now, the Hawks have chosen to go with the duo of Mack and Lou Williams behind All-Star hopeful Jeff Teague.