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Let’s Take a Look at Who the Indiana Pacers Might Take in the NBA Draft

By Luke Parrish

Dec 10, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears forward Ivan Rabb (1) controls the ball against the UC Davis Aggies during the first half at Haas Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 10, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears forward Ivan Rabb (1) controls the ball against the UC Davis Aggies during the first half at Haas Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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As the NBA Draft gets closer, we’ll take a look at which players the Indiana Pacers might take with their first round pick.

The 2016-2017 NBA season is far from over and the Indiana Pacers are fighting for a spot in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

But the NBA draft is still a few months away and it’s never too early to think about the future. Let’s see what the experts think about the future of the Pacers in some recent mock drafts.

DraftExpress currently has the Pacers selecting Indiana sophomore forward OG Anunoby with the 18th pick. Anunoby averaged 11.1 PPG and 5.4 RPG during his sophomore season before suffering a knee injury in January.

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Anunoby is a versatile forward with a high ceiling if he decides to head to the NBA. His jump shot needs work, but he can attack the basket and guard the ball very well on the other end. If the Pacers want a potential 3-and-D wing player, OG is a compelling option.

Andrew Sharp of Sports Illustrated has the Pacers taking California PF Ivan Rabb with the 18th overall selection. Rabb decided to return to Cal for a second-year, which may have hurt his draft stock.

Rabb is averaging a double-double for his sophomore season at 14.2 PPG and 10.7 RPG. Perhaps Rabb could develop into a solid starting 4 that can grab rebounds next to Myles Turner.

Other players worth considering

John Collins, power forward, Wake Forest: Collins provides size and the ability to rebound well, which has been a problem for Indiana all season.

Luke Kennard, guard, Duke: Kennard is a pure scorer. He’d likely be a bench player early on, but can develop into a starter in the NBA.

Johnathan Motley, power forward, Baylor: Motley jumped up in mock drafts while shining this season at Baylor.

Next: Keep An Eye Out for These Players in the Big Dance

The 2017 draft is seemingly loaded with talent in comparison to recent drafts. Therefore, the Pacers should be able to find a young stud to pair with Paul George and Myles Turner. Options will be at the Pacers’ disposal in the first round.

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