Indiana Pacers take flyer on Xavier’s Edmond Sumner

The Indiana Pacers traded cash to the New Orleans Pelicans to acquire the draft rights of Xavier’s Edmond Sumner.

The Indiana Pacers went for another low-risk/high-reward player in the second round when they acquired Xavier’s Edmond Sumner last night in a trade.

Indiana acquired the draft rights to Sumner from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for cash considerations according to a press release from the Pacers.

Sumner averaged 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game with the Musketeers, but last season cut short thanks to injuries that required surgery according to WCPO out of Cincinnati.

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"Sumner likely would have gone higher, had he not had a season-ending ACL tear in his left knee and offseason knee and shoulder surgery. He’s still about a year away from being back to full health.But that’s exactly the reason he decided to enter the draft. Although some fans questioned his decision to go pro during his injury layoff, Sumner tried to explain his decision-making process on Twitter. Mack clarified: Sumner could rehab at Xavier and not play, or he could rehab in the pros and not play but start making money."

For better or worse, there isn’t a need to rush Sumner into the lineup, he needs time to heal and get his body back to 100%. Those are certainly concerns but as a second round pick, you don’t need him to make his impact this year. You hope down the line he shows the talent that had him projected higher in the draft.

He’s a solid athlete, according to Draft Express.

"Listed at 6’5.5 with a 6’8 wingspan, Sumner has always been a highly impressive athlete in terms of size, length, quickness and explosiveness, possessing elite-level physical tools, even among lottery prospects. He can race down the floor in the open court and is a quick twitch player in the half-court who can affect the game with his physical tools. His ability to regain his full level of athleticism will be very important in his ability to carve out a niche at the NBA level, especially considering some of his limitations as a shooter, finisher and decision maker."

Sumner is another second round pick that comes with a risk, but for better and for worse, that is an injury. It isn’t as if he can’t dribble or can’t shoot, he just needs to get healthy. If he does, then the Pacers might he a very solid return on their investment.

Next: Pacers, Lavoy Allen part ways

Here’s to Sumner’s health, and hopefully a solid draft pick by the Indiana Pacers.