Indiana Pacers mock draft roundup
By Luke Parrish
Draft season is upon us, and just about every sports site around has a mock draft with their guess of how things will shake out (stay tuned for ours). Read on for a collection of who the internet has the Pacers taking.
The 2017 NBA Draft is just a month away, so let’s take another look at potential fits for the Pacers. The Draft Combine has come and gone, and it’s officially draft time.
Of course, we still don’t know about Paul George amid all of the rumors. Mock drafts do not have Paul being traded, so if the Pacers wind up with a top pick, we’ll have no way of knowing who they might take until draft night
Mock Drafts
Paul Kasabian of Bleacher Report has the Pacers selecting shooting guard Donovan Mitchell out of Louisville. Mitchell, in his sophomore season, averaged 13.4 points per game along with five boards and 2.5 assists. He shot 32.5 percent from 3-point range and 77.6 percent from the charity stripe. The Louisville product is an offensive weapon with potential to grow into a 3-and-D player, standing at 6-foot-3 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan.
Both Reid Forgrave and Gary Parrish of CBS Sports project Texas big man Jarrett Allen to Indiana. Allen declared after his freshman year at Texas where he averaged 12. 4 points, 8.6 boards, and 1.7 blocks per game. His offensive game needs improvement but his athleticism and defensive prowess are unmatched. Allen and fellow Longhorn Myles Turner could form the Texas two-step of the NBA.
Andrew Lynch of Fox Sports places Wake Forest power forward John Collins in blue and gold. Collins, another freshman standout, broke onto the scene at Wake Forest this year. He averaged 19.2 points and 9.8 rebounds over 33 games. Collins is still young, giving him plenty of time and room to develop. At 6-foot-9 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, Collins could grow into a stretch four or paint presence. DraftExpress has also pegged John Collins to Indiana at number 18 overall.
Others to Watch
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OG Anunoby, Indiana: Anunoby suffered a knee injury during his sophomore campaign, but he has all the tools to be an NBA starter. If he develops a consistent jump shot, he can be a nightmare at the next level.
Jordan Bell, Oregon: Bell set the record for the shuttle at the NBA Combine at 6-foot-9. He is a freak athlete with huge upside. His defensive presence and rebounding ability are remarkable.
Terrance Ferguson, Australia: Ferguson was set to join the Arizona Wildcats out of high school, but instead chose to play professionally in Australia. His numbers in Australia were subpar, but the talent is there. At pick No. 18, this is a risk worth taking.
Justin Patton, Creighton: A 7-footer with athleticism and a high field goal percentage, Patton could pair well with Myles Turner.
What if Paul George leaves?
If Indiana fields an offer for PG-13 they simply can’t refuse, then the Pacers may be picking in the top five. In this scenario, Indiana will have plenty of options and prospects to choose from. Potential targets could be Josh Jackson, Jayson Tatum and Malik Monk. While point guards are abundant this year, the Pacers will (likely) have Jeff Teague as the floor general in 2017-18.
On the off-chance that Teague is playing elsewhere, Lonzo Ball of UCLA or De’Aaron Fox of Kentucky could be in play, along with Markelle Fultz.
Next: T.J. Leaf among Pacers predraft workout ranks
With the many rumors surrounding the Pacers and Paul George, we are set for an exciting month.