Mar 20, 2014; Spokane, WA, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Adreian Payne (5) dribbles against Delaware Fightin Blue Hens forward Carl Baptiste (33) in the first half of a men

Adreian Payne

Power Forward – Michigan State

This could be slightly optimistic on my part. Adreian Payne is projected to go anywhere from 15 to 25 in the upcoming draft. He’s not an elite player but he projects well as a role playing big man who can be a stretch 4 in the NBA, with ability to step out and knock down 3 pointers at NBA range.

That combination will make him very attractive to NBA teams, the Rockets in particular if they do not add a star power forward prior to the draft or if some of their current young players are dealt away in a trade. Terrence Jones played well in his 2nd season this year and is more athletic, but does not have the outside shooting touch and range that Adreian Payne has.

Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

I included Payne in this article because even if the Rockets don’t believe he’ll make it to them at pick 25, he is one guy I can see them making a trade up to go get if the opportunity is there.

Payne is 6’10”, 240 with a 7’4” wingspan. He’s an excellent shooter for a big man, shooting 38% as a junior and a 42% as a senior from 3 point range. Payne is also good rebounder and has a solid post game. He’s known as a leader and to his benefit he has been coached for 4 years by one of the best coaches in the country, Tom Izzo.

Payne was also a 4 year player at Michigan State. Rockets GM Daryl Morey has indicated that he likes players entering the draft as seniors in the late 1st, early 2nd round range. He feels that he gets a player that has improved while in college, is more mature and ready to go to work to be a pro.

The Rockets have had success with Carl Landry, Chase Budinger and Chandler Parsons in the past and followed that same pattern of drafting seniors, with Isaiah Canaan last year.

It’s difficult to find a comparable for Adreian Payne as there are not a lot of 6’10” players who step out and hit 3’s, rebound fairly well and have some semblance of a low post game. Although Payne has more length, from a skills standpoint the closest comparable may be a better rebounding version of Boris Diaw.