Wolves acquire Adreian Payne for 1st-round pick
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The Minnesota Timberwolves aren't done dealing, and the Atlanta Hawks have cleared a roster spot for a Ray Allen push. It's all happening.
The Wolves have acquired Adreian Payne from the Hawks for a first-round pick, according to Chris Vivlamore from the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The pick is a 2017 first-round pick that will be lottery protected, reports Brian Windhorst of ESPN. The Hawks have confirmed the trade.
Payne is yet another intriguing young piece for the Wolves' collection. A bit older for a rookie at 23, Payne will compete with Anthony Bennett and Shabazz Muhammad for minutes at power forward and could even spot in as a small center. Payne has played sparingly this year for the Hawks - just 19 minutes in three appearances - but has acquitted himself fairly well in the D-League, averaging 13 points and 8.5 rebounds in 17 games.
What Payne has yet to flash in the D-League is the 3-point stroke that made him a potential stretch big at the NBA level. After shooting 41.9 percent from long range as a senior, Payne has shot just 4-of-25 from outside in the D-League. Still, he's an intriguing prospect, and the Wolves know they won't be giving up a lottery pick to land him.
#Twolves Flip Saunders on trade for Adreian Payne: "Fits mold of young, athletic and talented player." Rookie has played 3 games this year.
— Andy Greder (@twolvesnow) February 10, 2015
Minnesota had opened up a roster spot earlier in the day by dealing Mo Williams and Troy Daniels to the Charlotte Hornets for Gary Neal and a 2019 second-round pick.
The Wolves would have been unable to offer a first-round pick before 2017, as they owe the Boston Celtics a first-rounder that turns into two second-rounders if not conveyed by 2016. Since teams can't trade consecutive first-round picks, they couldn't offer a pick until one year after their Boston obligation is extinguished.
Landing a first-round pick, even one that's lottery-protected for four seasons, is a nice payday for the Hawks. They used the No. 15 pick on Payne, a likable Michigan State product, this past June but have little room for him in their rotation and desired an additional roster spot.
They're hoping to use that spot on Allen, should he decide to play this season, or Neal, should he be bought out by the Wolves, and could use it to bring 7-foot-2 prospect Walter Tavares stateside next summer.