5 Seniors the Pacers shouldn’t draft under any circumstances

Bryce Alford

The four-year player out of UCLA was invited to work out with the Pacers, but very few mock drafts have him being selected by any team, let alone Indiana.

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Alford is a truly gifted 3-point shooter. He shot 43 percent from behind the line during his senior season at UCLA, an elite figure. Although, it helps when Lonzo Ball is throwing you the ball. Leave him alone on the corner, and you’re in serious trouble. Give him enough space to pull up off the dribble, same ending. The guy can shoot.

The benefits pretty much stop there, unfortunately. Alford is undersized for a shooting guard, and he doesn’t make up for it with length or athleticism. He’s destined to to be minus defender, he lacks the necessary explosion to finish over NBA competition and it’s difficult to foresee him adding another dimension to his game. He’s also 22 already, so room for growth is extremely limited.

It’s true that every team could always use more shooting, and even if Alford never leaves the corner and gives up a few points on the defensive end, he could still be useful for an NBA team. He’ll definitely get summer league and training camp offers, and it’s not impossible that Indiana likes him enough to lock him up at No. 47. That would objectively be a mistake.