NBA Trade: Minnesota Timberwolves acquire Adreian Payne for first-round pick

By Josh Hill | Feb 10, 2015

Jan 13, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Jerami Grant (39) and Atlanta Hawks forward Adreian Payne (33) battle for a loose ball during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Hawks defeated the 76ers 105-87. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

The NBA Trade Deadline is approaching and the Minnesota Twins are suddenly a busy team, making dual moves on Tuesday afternoon.

A week ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves seemed very content in not trading away any major veteran pieces in order to make sure they could grow whatever that have going for them at the moment. What stye have going for them isn’t much, and Flip Saunders has gone from being content in not making trades to making two in the same day.

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Hours after the Timberwolves moved guards Mo Williams and Troy Daniels to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Gary Neal and a second-round pick, they have again made a move to acquire an exciting young player for their future.

According to Adrian Wojnarowksi from Yahoo! Sports, the Wolves will be sending a future first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for rookie forward Adreian Payne.

Minnesota will likely send a 2017 first-round pick to Atlanta in the Adreian Payne deal, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 10, 2015

While Gary Neal will likely be bought out before the deadline arrives, since Minnesota can’t trade him before February 19th’s deadline, Adrien Payne will placed on the bench in order to grow into a role with the team. It’s an exciting time for the Timberwolves, as they’re moving some veterans before the deadline but acquiring young players and future picks to build with.

Of course, they’re giving up a future first-rounder for Payne, who was the 15th overall pick in the NBA Draft this summer. Payne knows the area well, as he traveled to Minnesota plenty of times over his college career at Michigan State and he’s a Big ten player the Flip Saunders knows all about.

This will hopefully lead to a flourishing role with the growing Wolves, who already have young potential stars in Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Glenn Robinson III.

As for Atlanta, moving Payne for a pick and not a player means that they have a roster spot open to pursue Ray Allen, or possibly bring back Gary Neal after he’s bought out by the Timberwolves.

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