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Lamar Patterson has played three positions this season for his Tofas SC team in the Turkish League, but has found the most success at small forward. Tofas fell short in an 86-77 loss to current league leader Fenerbahce, but Patterson scored a game-high 20 points while matched up against former Laker Andrew Goudelock. Patterson's 20 points came while shooting 7/9 from field and adding 5 assists and 4 rebounds. The 20 points were a season high in Turkish League play for the Hawks' second-round selection and continues a trend of improved play when Patterson is at small forward.
Patterson recently offered up the following quote in an interview with Fansided's Chris Reichert:
My time in Turkey has been actually how I thought it would be. I’ve had some ups and downs just like how any other season would go. Being here is definitely helping me mature as a basketball player but most importantly as a man. They (the Hawks) want me to continue to get my body in tip top shape and with my game they wanted me to grow and learn how to play and perform well against top level guys. The guys from Atlanta also came out here to see me play and I know they are watching what I am doing.
Patterson continues to make progress in Turkey and seems poised for a deeper look with the Hawks in the Summer League. The Hawks also hope to have Walter Tavares competing in summer league, but Tavares has had two difficult outings since our last update. The starting center for Gran Canaria had 13 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks in a 90-81 win over Andorra, but managed only 8 points on 3/9 shooting against a small front court. He followed that game with one of his worst games of the season in a 74-67 loss to Joventut Bandalona. Tavares was 0/2 from the field with only 1 steal and 1 block in 25 minutes of play. The "Big Canary" did manage to pull down 10 rebounds as he continues to lead the Spanish ACB league with 8.3 per game.
Patterson and Tavares continue to display both the promise offered in the Hawks' selecting them in the second round and the limitations that made them available later in the draft.