The Sports Inquirer

The Atlanta Hawks selected Michigan State forward Adreian Payne with the 15^th overall pick in the first round and Walter Tavares, a native of Cape Verde, with the 43^rd overall choice (second round) of the 2014 NBA Draft.

Additionally, the Hawks acquired the draft rights to Pittsburgh guard/forward Lamar Patterson, the 48^th overall pick, from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for a 2015 second round draft pick.

A four-year letterman at Michigan State, Payne finished his career as the Spartans’ all-time leader in blocked shots (141) while becoming one-of-nine players in school history with 1,200 career points (1,232) and 700 career rebounds (735).  He was a two-time Second Team All-Big Ten honoree, as a junior and senior, while garnering Second Team NABC and USBWA All-District accolades last season.  As a senior, Payne averaged 16.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.9 blocks in 28.1 minutes in 31 games (.503 FG%, .423 3FG%, .790 FT%).

Tavares, a 7-3 center, has played professionally for four years (2010-14) in Spain with Gran Canaria (Spanish ACB league) and Union Baloncesto La Palma (LEB Silver league).  This past season with Gran Canaria, he averaged 6.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 20.7 minutes in 35 games (.593 FG%, .722 FT%).  Tavares split time between Gran Canaria’s teams in the Spanish ACB and Spanish LEB Silver in 2012-13.  He played for Union Baloncesto La Palma (LEB Silver) in 2011-12 after competing for Gran Canaria’s youth team in the Spanish EBA league from 2009-11.

The 6-5 Patterson played at Pittsburgh from 2009-14, seeing action in a school-record 148 career games (starting his final 102 contests).  He was named All-ACC Second Team as a senior, after averaging team highs of 17.1 points and 4.3 assists, while adding 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 32.6 minutes (.441 FG%, .388 3FG%, .754 FT%) in 36 games.  For his career, he averaged 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.0 steals in 24.5 minutes (.435 FG%, .369 3FG%, .723 FT%).  He is one-of-three players in school history with more than 1,000 points (1,410), 500 rebounds (588) and 400 assists (427).