Indiana Pacers Fit the Puzzle Pieces Together on Draft Week

Thursday, June 23, 11:49 p.m. — The Draft Isn’t Over

Within all of the excitement of the past couple days, it was hard to get excited for what the Pacers had left: a second round draft pick. No one at pick 50 is going to bring the impact the previous two moves will, but the Pacers still had the opportunity to find buried treasure. The team didn’t trade into the first round and their given pick was traded for Young, but that didn’t matter. The draft and the night wasn’t over for the Pacers, and as the clock neared midnight the Pacers added their final piece of the week.

Shams Charania, Wojnarowski’s second in command, dropped his own ShamWow for the Pacers. Georges Niang, the Pacers second round draft pick. A career college guy who just doesn’t quite have an NBA body, but who still can (hopefully) figure out ways to contribute at the next level. He’s crafty, and not crafty in the sense of “this is the word we use to describe a player that sucks without being mean”, but actually crafty.

He averaged 20.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and had a 54.6 FG% in his senior season for the Iowa State Cyclones, which is no small feat for a guy in a power conference. That output netted him a unanimous All-Big-12 First Team selection, as well as consensus Second Team All-American honors.

Georges Niang – Iowa State Cyclones | PointAfter

Some people have NBA athleticism and some don’t. Niang, unfortunately, falls into the latter category. If he wants to produce on the team, his biggest problem will be his own limitations. He himself has stated his ideal role on the team in a chat with IndyStar’s Nate Taylor, which is finding his own place, making plays, and making life easier for players like George, Ellis, and Teague.

He obviously was able to figure that out in college with his absurd senior stat line, and he was also developed by one of the best coaches in college basketball, current Bulls coach Fred Hoidberg, whom Niang may have been thinking of with his jersey number selection. If Niang can produce, he adds a piece of the puzzle that the Pacers have been missing for a while.

A stretch 4. Thaddeus Young isn’t one. But Niang is. He had a 39.2 3P% in his senior year and shot 37.5% from long range throughout his entire college career. He was also 60.5% on 2-pointers in his final season. The guy can score from anywhere.

Georges Niang Shot Chart | PointAfter

Combine that with his rebounding and assist numbers as a 4, and you’re looking at a guy who can give you almost anything off the bench. The Pacers are a little light on quality big men as things sit right now, so if Niang’s abilities translate at the next level, the bench will be a lot better off.

For now, fans will have to see what he’s made of in Summer League action. There’s no guarantee he’ll get playing time or even be on the roster once October rolls around, but if what GM Kevin Pritchard said after draft night holds up, he has a good shot at good minutes.

He may be a small piece, but at the end of the day, the puzzle got a little clearer after the pick.

Next: What Now?