The Atlanta Hawks three 2014 draft picks will compete on the team's Summer League team in Las Vegas, Nev., beginning next week, the team announced on Tuesday. First-round pick Adreian Payne, who the Hawks drafted out of Michigan State to develop into yet another skilled stretch-four, will join second-round selections Lamar Patterson and Walter Tavares on the team.
As with any top selection, many eyes will be on Payne, who is coming off a dominant senior season and projects to be a valuable asset, likely off the bench, for coach Mike Budenholzer right away. He finished his career as the Spartans' all-time leader in blocked shots and wrapped up his final year averaging 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
Patterson and Tavares, a 7-foot-3 project who displayed marked improvement last season in the Spanish League, will also get their first taste of NBA competition in Las Vegas.
Hawks draftees from previous years under general manager Danny Ferry -- John Jenkins, Mike Muscala and Dennis Schroeder -- are also on the roster.
The team will be coached by Hawks assistant Darvin Ham.
Other highlights on the team include former Tennessee State guard Abraham Millsap, the younger brother of Hawks All-Star forward, and Southeastern Conference standouts Trevor Releford (Alabama) and Casey Prather (Florida). There are 11 rookies on the team, many of them, as should come as no surprise, four-year collegiate players and one (Edo Muric, Slovenia) an international product. Here is the full roster:
Trevor Releford, Guard, Alabama (Rookie)
Dennis Schroeder, Guard, Germany (1st year)
Stephen Holt, Guard, Saint Mary's (Rookie)
John Jenkins, Guard, Vanderbilt (2nd year)
Lamar Patterson, Guard/Forward, Pittsburgh (Rookie)
Casey Prather, Guard/Forward, Florida (Rookie)
Abraham Millsap, Guard, Tennessee State (Rookie)
Michael Bramos, Guard/Forward, Miami (Ohio) (Rookie)
Eric Dawson, Forward, Midwestern State (1st year)
Edo Muric, Forward, Slovenia (Rookie)
Travis Wear, Forward, UCLA (Rookie)
Mike Muscala, Forward/Center, Bucknell (1st year)
Adreian Payne, Forward/Center, Michigan State (Rookie)
D.J. Shelton, Center, Washington State (Rookie)
Walter Tavares, Center, Cape Verde (Rookie)
