Who the Indiana Pacers should have selected in every NBA Draft since 2010
By Josh Wilson
In 2012, the Pacers and many other teams missed on a strong defensive player
First-round selection: Miles Plumlee (WRONG)
Available: Draymond Green
Second-round selection: NONE
The Pacers missed again in 2012 by selecting Miles Plumlee. In fairness, though, there were not very many obvious talents left on the draft board at 26 overall in 2012.
Draymond Green is the most talented player that was left, but at the time plenty of teams had passed on him and he was far from a sure thing in the league.
Still, this is a retrospective look, and in retrospect, the Pacers made the wrong call here. Plumlee would last just one season in Indiana, averaging 0.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game.
Green is an NBA champion and one of the most intelligent players and best defenders in the NBA.
Should have selected: Draymond Green
The Pacers let Rudy Gobert sit on the draft board in 2013
First-round selection: Solomon Hill (WRONG)
Available: Rudy Gobert
Second-round selection: Colton Iverson (WRONG)
Available: Robert Covington, Seth Curry
Three years in a row where the Pacers really got things wrong.
The Jazz had to be extremely patient with Rudy Gobert’s development over the years, but now that he is fully developed, he is an extremely good player.
A two-time Defensive Player of the Year, there’s no doubt that Gobert could have filled a Myles Turner-like role for the Pacers and made for a dominant roll-man option in halfcourt sets.
In the second round, the Pacers selected Colton Iverson but traded him right away to the Celtics. His career never took off past Summer League in the NBA, and he played several seasons overseas.
Robert Covington and Seth Curry were both on the draft board in the second round for the Pacers, two players they would have been wise to take.
Seth Curry is the most accurate active shooter in the NBA. He’s extremely overlooked in part because his brother is one of the best scorers and shooters of all time.
Robert Covington is a great 3-and-D player who can guard specific assignments at an extremely high level. His versatility would be welcome on just about any NBA team.