Timberwolves Acquire Adreian Payne – Trade Away Mo Walker

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves have acquired rookie Adreian Payne from the Atlanta Hawks for a protected future first-round pick.

The Wolves announced the deal Tuesday, one day after the Hawks beat the Timberwolves in Minnesota. Payne was the 15th overall pick in the draft last summer. But he has played in only three games this season because the veteran team has surged to the top of the standings and has not been able to offer him enough playing time.

The Timberwolves have a trade exception from the Kevin Love deal, so they do not have to send a player back in return.

Wolves coach Flip Saunders says Payne fits the mold of a young, athletic player who will fit in on the rebuilding team.

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets have acquired veteran point guard Mo Williams from the Minnesota Timberwolves for guard Gary Neal.

The Hornets will also get shooting guard Troy Daniels and will send a second-round pick to the Timberwolves. The deal was announced on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old Williams is averaging 12.2 points and 6.4 assists per game in 41 games, including 19 starts for the injured Ricky Rubio. He is second on the team shooting 34.7 percent from 3-point range. He will give the Hornets a reliable veteran backup to Kemba Walker.

The 30-year-old Neal is a score-first guard averaging 9.9 points per game this season.

Charlotte started the day 22-29 and tied with Miami for seventh in the Eastern Conference.

Yahoo! Sports first reported the trade.