2014 NBA Draft: Players Who Landed In Ideal Spots

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Adreian Payne (Michigan State) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number fifteen overall pick to the Atlanta Hawks in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Adreian Payne: Atlanta Hawks

What a great pickup by the Hawks. They needed help along the frontline, so they added, probably, the most NBA-ready and experienced player in the entire draft. Payne has grown up a lot in his four years at Michigan State both on the court and off. His game has also improved dramatically over that same time.

Payne’s a great fit for Atlanta because he fits right into their system without having to make any adjustments at all. He’s long, athletic, physical, and mobile, which allow him to be the perfect player to pair up with Jeff Teague. The Teague-Payne pick-and-roll/pop will be deadly in the NBA. Payne has a great outside shot that will help open up and stretch the floor for the Hawks. By all indications, Atlanta wants to play exactly like the Spurs. Well, the Hawks might have just found their version of Tiago Splitter, except Payne can drain threes, too.