Soaring Down South
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A Review of Atlanta Hawks NBA Draft Picks During this Decade

By Bean

Mar 11, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder (17) brings the ball up in the first quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder (17) brings the ball up in the first quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Adreian Payne (Michigan State) gets a hug from 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

Pick 15: Adreian Payne

Passed On:  Jusuf Nurkic, Gary Harris, Rodney Hood, Clint Capela, Nikola Jokic.

This was a bad pick. Payne was a late bloomer in college, and he was expected to eventually steal minutes from the elders Pero Antic and Elton Brand. Payne missed the first 10 games of his rookie season with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. When he came back the Hawks mostly kept him in the D-League and he only played 3 total games with the team. The Hawks realized early on that Payne was not good enough to be apart of their future plans. He was swiftly traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves that season for a future protected 1st round pick. Payne has been less than impressive since then struggling to get on the floor for a team in the lottery. He may be out of the league sooner rather than later.

Pick 43: Walter Tavares (Edy)

Passed On: Dwight Powell, Jordan Clarkson.

Edy Tavares was an intriguing pick by the franchise at the time. The 7 footer out of Cape Verde was an unknown commodity at the time, but many believed that perhaps one day he could become a contributor off the bench for the Atlanta Hawks. After staying overseas for the 2014-15 season, Edy signed a contract with the Hawks that summer. It was known that Edy would be a long-term project and he spent plenty of time in the D-League over the course of the next two seasons. Tavares only ended up playing about 12 games for the Hawks before he was waived in favor of Ryan Kelly. Since then the Cleveland Cavaliers have signed the big man to a 3 year deal. We will wait and see if he can become a legit NBA player with the help of LeBron James. As it looks now, Tavares is another failed attempt by the Hawks to draft a big man.

Next: 2015 NBA Draft