Timberwolves Trading for Adreian Payne-Sending Hawks First Round Pick

The Wolves have followed up their trade of Mo Williams and Troy Daniels by trading for the Atlanta Hawks' Adreian Payne, a rookie power forward who was unable to crack the rotation in Atlanta.

The Wolves are sending a future first round pick to the Hawks for the 23 year old Payne, who apparently impressed them in pre-draft workouts.

Payne is old for a rookie, and did not impress in the analytical draft models, but was hailed for his toughness at Michigan State.

Obviously our feelings about this deal will depend on the protections involved in the first rounder they are sending to Atlanta. If I'm not mistaken, it can't be sooner than 2017 because of the pick owed to Phoenix. But I could be wrong.

So. Much. Happening.

More to come.

Adreian Payne. First round pick. Wow.

No info in Wolves release re: pick. Here's text:

Minneapolis/St. Paul - The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has acquired forward/center Adreian Payne from Atlanta for a protected future first round draft pick.

"We are extremely excited to welcome Adreian to Minnesota," said Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders. "Adreian fits the mold of a young, athletic and talented player who we believe will fit in well with our young and talented core. We've liked him for a while and look forward to seeing him grow with us in a Wolves uniform."

Payne, 23, was selected by Atlanta with the 15th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He's appeared in three games with the Hawks this season, averaging 1.7 points and 1.3 rebounds in 6.3 minutes per game. Payne has appeared in 17 games between the Fort Worth Mad Ants and Austin Spurs in the NBA D-League, averaging 12.9 points, on 48.3% shooting, 8.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 27.2 minutes per game.

Drafted out of Michigan State, Payne averaged 16.4 points on 50.3% shooting (42.3% from three-point range) and 7.3 rebounds per game as senior in 2013-14 with the Spartans. His play earned him Second-Team All-Big Ten and Honorable Mention Associated Press All-American. Payne finished his collegiate career as one of just nine players in MSU history with 1,200+ points and 700+ rebounds, as well as wrapping up his career as the school's all-time leader in blocked shots.

More to come.

EDIT: Word has it that the pick is lottery protected (which isn't as much as I was hoping for) 2017-2020. What happens if it isn't conveyed by then remains unclear.