2014 NBA Draft: Predicting Winners and Losers

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

Loser

Atlanta Hawks- Going into the draft the Atlanta Hawks had the 15th and 43rd picks. The Hawks selected Adreian Payne with their 15th pick. Payne is an intriguing prospect with excellent athleticism and shooting range. He has the potential to be an excellent stretch forward with the ability to finish inside, the problem is the Hawks already have two talented bigs in Paul Millsap and Al Horford. With the 43rd pick the Hawks selected 7’3″ center Walter Tavares who is clearly a project. Tavares works hard and has a decent touch, but has ways to go. The Hawks traded a 2015 second round pick to the Milwaukee Bucks for the 48th pick. The pick was Lamar Patterson, a 6’5″ wing with a decent shot and solid defense. The talent is there with Payne, but the Hawks seem to forget that they need better wings.