[chrsw003Participant]

 Im a big hawks fan and was kind of dissapointed when we drafted Payne. I wanted to get James young or Gary Harris. We already have power forwards and could use a wing. I did like our 2nd round picks though. Anyways what are yaulls thoughts on the hawks draft? Convince me im wrong about Payne and he’s gonna be a beast in the league please?

[terrancebowerParticipant]

I was kinda thinking the same thing, I thought they were going to grab Rodney Hood. But I think Payne could be a pretty good player, his ceiling might be like a more athletic Ryan Anderson, which I think would make for a pretty good player. Plus you guys signed Millsap at a bargain so you might not be able to hang on to him after this year when his contract is up. I think that’s ok because then you have Payne hopefully coming into his own, hopefully still Horford, and Noguiera (plus Tavares who is a project) and you can get your high scoring wing in free agency. You might be starting Carroll and Korver again but that might be good enough to squeak into the playoffs again this year in the East. I really like Mike Scott too, Hawks should hang on to him.

[terrancebowerParticipant]

I was kinda thinking the same thing, I thought they were going to grab Rodney Hood. But I think Payne could be a pretty good player, his ceiling might be like a more athletic Ryan Anderson, which I think would make for a pretty good player. Plus you guys signed Millsap at a bargain so you might not be able to hang on to him after this year when his contract is up. I think that’s ok because then you have Payne hopefully coming into his own, hopefully still Horford, and Noguiera (plus Tavares who is a project) and you can get your high scoring wing in free agency. You might be starting Carroll and Korver again but that might be good enough to squeak into the playoffs again this year in the East. I really like Mike Scott too, Hawks should hang on to him.

[ghettosermonParticipant]

I don’t have anything wrong with the pick as 15 is the range I thought Payne would go. However the Hawks don’t seem like the best situation. It’s not that Payne could eventually take Millsap’s spot if they don’t retain him however the Hawks have been talking forever how they need to move Horford to PF since he’s an undersized 5 and it’s taking a toll on his health. With that Payne can’t play the 5 so he really does project to be a backup big, but hey if he can provide a Taj Gibson type impact there is nothing wrong with that. I just don’t think it was a need though as PF is their deepest spot. They have Miillsap, Horford, Antic, Scott, and Muscala. I though Nurkic made sense, Fery obviously wants to build the international pipeline and Nurkic’s size would allow them to move Horford to PF. People forget that the Hawks were very successful even when Josh Smith was out, when they had Zaza at center and Horford at PF. Hopefully Nogueira can come over soon.

[ghettosermonParticipant]

I don’t have anything wrong with the pick as 15 is the range I thought Payne would go. However the Hawks don’t seem like the best situation. It’s not that Payne could eventually take Millsap’s spot if they don’t retain him however the Hawks have been talking forever how they need to move Horford to PF since he’s an undersized 5 and it’s taking a toll on his health. With that Payne can’t play the 5 so he really does project to be a backup big, but hey if he can provide a Taj Gibson type impact there is nothing wrong with that. I just don’t think it was a need though as PF is their deepest spot. They have Miillsap, Horford, Antic, Scott, and Muscala. I though Nurkic made sense, Fery obviously wants to build the international pipeline and Nurkic’s size would allow them to move Horford to PF. People forget that the Hawks were very successful even when Josh Smith was out, when they had Zaza at center and Horford at PF. Hopefully Nogueira can come over soon.

[vulture711Participant]

 It was take the best player available rather than fill a need and thats probably where he was on their board

[vulture711Participant]

 It was take the best player available rather than fill a need and thats probably where he was on their board

[KingslayerParticipant]

Expecting a beast with the 15th pick is cause for future disappointment. It’s highly unlikely a 15th selection amounts to anything more than a solid starter, at best. Kawhi Leonard is the obvious exception, but not the rule.

The hawks actually have very little at PF. Horford plays C and all the backup PFs behind Millsap are unrestricted FAs. The hawks starting lineup consists entirely of solid starters to borderline all-star players, so I can’t fault them for choosing what they believe was the BPA. Additionally, Teague, Horford and Korver are all locked up for at least 2 years, while Millsap and Carroll are entering their final year of their contracts. I like Payne as a prospect . He is ready to contribute immediately, and his shooting ability, length and athleticism give hope for some future upside. If the hawks can’t retain Millsap next offseason, I think Payne could step right in and start at PF in his second year, providing an excellent fit next to Horford on both ends of the court. 

[KingslayerParticipant]

Expecting a beast with the 15th pick is cause for future disappointment. It’s highly unlikely a 15th selection amounts to anything more than a solid starter, at best. Kawhi Leonard is the obvious exception, but not the rule.

The hawks actually have very little at PF. Horford plays C and all the backup PFs behind Millsap are unrestricted FAs. The hawks starting lineup consists entirely of solid starters to borderline all-star players, so I can’t fault them for choosing what they believe was the BPA. Additionally, Teague, Horford and Korver are all locked up for at least 2 years, while Millsap and Carroll are entering their final year of their contracts. I like Payne as a prospect . He is ready to contribute immediately, and his shooting ability, length and athleticism give hope for some future upside. If the hawks can’t retain Millsap next offseason, I think Payne could step right in and start at PF in his second year, providing an excellent fit next to Horford on both ends of the court. 

[xJumpManxParticipant]

 I really like Payne. He can shoot is big and he was way more atheltic than people think.

[xJumpManxParticipant]

 I really like Payne. He can shoot is big and he was way more atheltic than people think.

[Lebron’s HairlineParticipant]

Yeah but with the depth of this draft the 15th pick would yield you a player that has much more value and would go higher in another draft.

[Lebron’s HairlineParticipant]

Yeah but with the depth of this draft the 15th pick would yield you a player that has much more value and would go higher in another draft.

[IhateusernamesParticipant]

 They need wing scoring. James young, hood, Anderson, would’ve been good. 

I really like Payne, but they have fixtures already with Horford, Milsapp

[IhateusernamesParticipant]

 They need wing scoring. James young, hood, Anderson, would’ve been good. 

I really like Payne, but they have fixtures already with Horford, Milsapp

[KHAM83Participant]

There were sexier picks available, but none that fits our system better than Payne. Young, Hood, Anderson, and Harris are good prospects, but not necessarily better than Payne, who isn’t the stereotypical "stretch four". He is athletic and tough, rebounds, plays good defense, and can play next to either Horford or Milsap. He’s a beast that happens to be a Damn good shooter. In this age of small ball, Payne can start at center right now if needed.

 

 As for those who says Harris, Young, Hood were the obvious better choice, there’s a reason they fell past where we expected them to. They all have questions: Harris’s size is a concern. Here may end up no more than a solid role player. Young’s shot looks nice, but they weren’t falling. Falling> looks. He can only go left. Hood is a solid shooter, but you’re finding shooting wings more and more. They are good prospects, but not easily better then Payne.

[KHAM83Participant]

There were sexier picks available, but none that fits our system better than Payne. Young, Hood, Anderson, and Harris are good prospects, but not necessarily better than Payne, who isn’t the stereotypical "stretch four". He is athletic and tough, rebounds, plays good defense, and can play next to either Horford or Milsap. He’s a beast that happens to be a Damn good shooter. In this age of small ball, Payne can start at center right now if needed.

 

 As for those who says Harris, Young, Hood were the obvious better choice, there’s a reason they fell past where we expected them to. They all have questions: Harris’s size is a concern. Here may end up no more than a solid role player. Young’s shot looks nice, but they weren’t falling. Falling> looks. He can only go left. Hood is a solid shooter, but you’re finding shooting wings more and more. They are good prospects, but not easily better then Payne.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

Bringing in guys (especially big men) with a history of getting better every year is a good thing. When you look at Payne, he is long, athletic, committed defensively, and skilled. I cannot see how someone can be disappointed. This was a lousy draft for big men, and Atlanta came away with the safest two-way guy. Wings come into the league every year, and guys get recycled for better results every year. This is not to diminish Harris or Young, but the past two drafts have been really poor on big men. They now have Payne at a good price for four years. 

Plus, the frontcourt is far from settled. Mike Scott is a free agent who might get a team to ante up. I could see a team that needs to reach the cap floor (i.e. Philadelphia) giving him a contract Atlanta does not want to match. Paul Millsap has one more year on his deal, and I imagine any team interested in trading for Kevin Love would also have interest in Millsap. Pero Antic and Gustavo Ayon are guys, not long-term pieces. Having them on the roster is fine, but there is not a reason to think they are more than caretakers for the front line.  Elton Brand is considering retirement. I think adding Payne makes a world of sense.

As for Tavares, I think he is this year’s Gobert, but there is a better chance he stays off the NBA roster next year. He is far from being an NBA quality player, and might not ever get there, but it is a 2nd round pick. It is not as if taking a flier takes the franchise under. Lamar Patterson looks the part of a 2nd round pick the coach will want to keep.  

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

Bringing in guys (especially big men) with a history of getting better every year is a good thing. When you look at Payne, he is long, athletic, committed defensively, and skilled. I cannot see how someone can be disappointed. This was a lousy draft for big men, and Atlanta came away with the safest two-way guy. Wings come into the league every year, and guys get recycled for better results every year. This is not to diminish Harris or Young, but the past two drafts have been really poor on big men. They now have Payne at a good price for four years. 

Plus, the frontcourt is far from settled. Mike Scott is a free agent who might get a team to ante up. I could see a team that needs to reach the cap floor (i.e. Philadelphia) giving him a contract Atlanta does not want to match. Paul Millsap has one more year on his deal, and I imagine any team interested in trading for Kevin Love would also have interest in Millsap. Pero Antic and Gustavo Ayon are guys, not long-term pieces. Having them on the roster is fine, but there is not a reason to think they are more than caretakers for the front line.  Elton Brand is considering retirement. I think adding Payne makes a world of sense.

As for Tavares, I think he is this year’s Gobert, but there is a better chance he stays off the NBA roster next year. He is far from being an NBA quality player, and might not ever get there, but it is a 2nd round pick. It is not as if taking a flier takes the franchise under. Lamar Patterson looks the part of a 2nd round pick the coach will want to keep.  

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