Pacers Draft Options: SMU Guard Shake Milton

The Indiana Pacers already have Shake Milton on their radar. Is he a realistic option for Indiana in the draft?

Southern Methodist University guard Shake Milton has all of the tools to succeed at the next level. He recently worked out for the Indiana Pacers, and he should be on the team’s draft board come next week’s draft.

Milton was a stud in three years at SMU, and he improved each year. Standing at 6-foot-5 with a wingspan over seven feet, Milton has incredible length. He can handle the ball and shoot with ease over defenders.

He is coming off a stellar junior season with the Mustangs, and NBA teams are taking notice.

Strengths

Milton’s junior season saw an increase in scoring, rebounding, and three-point shooting.

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He finished the year averaging 18 points in 22 games while knocking down 43.4 percent of his three-point shots. He also attempted five free throws per game, up from 2.6 attempts the year before.

Milton used his length to grab 4.7 rebounds per game in 2017-18. That length also allows Milton to rise up over shot-blockers and close-outs. He notched 1.4 steals as well last season.

The SMU guard has all the tools to mold into a quality NBA player. He has the touch to knock down the long ball, and the size to drive to the basket against smaller defenders. His size gives him an advantage on both ends of the floor.

Weaknesses

Milton struggled a bit with his ball control, and his turnover rates are a bit of a concern. However, his size will allow him to play more off-ball in the NBA and limit his giveaways.

An Injury limited Shake last season, he played in just 22 of the Mustangs’ 33 games. Although he appears to be healed from the health problems, it is always important to keep track of all injuries.

On the whole, there aren’t many glaring issues with Milton’s game. But on the other hand, he may not ever be a star. That is not expected of a late first or early second-round pick, but it is still noteworthy.

Is he an option for Indiana?

At 23rd overall, Milton could be in play. But recent mock drafts have him falling out of round one. Bleacher Report’s most recent mock even has him falling to the Pacers at number 50 overall. Milton will be on Indiana’s radar in the next week or so leading up to the draft.

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Shake Milton has one of the coolest names in the draft, and his ability on the court is pretty solid too. The junior guard will peak the interest of several NBA teams, and he could be a huge steal if he slips next Thursday.