Indiana Pacers Draft: 5 shooters to target in the second round

The Indiana Pacers draft needs start at NBA shooting

Currently in line for the 48th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers do not have a first-round pick. The Pacers draft priorities will need to center on the second round if they do not plan on making a splashy trade.

Their first-round selection was sent to Milwaukee in the trade that brought Malcolm Brogdon to the Circle City in a sign-and-trade. Indiana does owe Brooklyn a second-rounder but it is protected from 45-60 in this year’s NBA Draft. Because the season was postponed and the Pacers are already in line for a playoff spot, it is likely they will keep the pick in 2020.

The Indiana Pacers are one of the league’s worst 3-point shooting teams this season. They shoot a league-low 27.5 threes per game and their 10 made threes are second lowest.

Despite those low numbers, the Pacers knock down 36.3 percent of their long ball attempts which is 12th-best in the league.

If the Pacers want to address their shooting woes this offseason, there are a few options that may be available in the second round of this year’s draft.

Pacers draft targets: Markus Howard

Most two-time consensus All-Americans do not appear so low on any list. When it comes to the Pacers, Howard is only fifth due to his size. He was, by far, the best scorer and shooter in college basketball this season averaging 27.8 points and knocking down 43.4 percent of his 9.2 3-balls per contest.

Howard averaged more than 20 points per game in each of his final three seasons as a Golden Eagle. He even gets to the line often and averaged more than eight attempts from the charity stripe last season and hit them at an 84.7 percent clip.

Next season, Howard will be on an NBA roster. His scoring ability would be welcome on several NBA teams, but the Pacers likely won’t be one. His shooting ability would be a difference-maker for Indiana and warrants him being on this list, but there’s just not enough available minutes in the team’s guard rotation. Add about four inches and Howard would be at the top of this list and a potential lottery pick.