Hawks SG John Jenkins to Make Preseason Debut on Tuesday

Apr 10, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard John Jenkins (12) celebrates with guard Jeff Teague (0) during the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Hawks defeated the Sixers 124-101. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

In the wake of the announcement that Paul Millsap will miss the rest of the preseason as a result of a sore left achilles, the Atlanta Hawks did release a bit of good news on the morning of their game against the Indiana Pacers.

John Jenkins being inserted into the lineup for Tuesday’s game is unquestionably a good sign. The 2nd-year shooting guard has missed the entirety of the preseason as a result of back issues, and with the backcourt already depleted by the absence of Lou Williams, Jenkins’ presence is sorely needed.

We shouldn’t expect to see a full workload for Jenkins in this spot, especially considering the requisite conditioning issues that a back injury could bring, but his shooting punch gives Atlanta another look on the offensive end. Last season, the 22-year-old Jenkins shot a blistering 38.4% from long distance, and few teams can match the shooting prowess that a Jenkins/Korver pairing would bring on the wing.

Be sure to tune in for tonight’s game thread here, and we will update you on Jenkins’ progress as the week continues to progress toward the regular season opener in Dallas.