Indiana Pacers: 3 draft prospects worth trading up for
By Luke Parrish
Scottie Barnes – Forward (Florida State)
This is a very clear and obvious choice for the Pacers heading into the draft cycle. Scottie Barnes is exactly what this team needs as someone who can play the wing and serve as the four rather than running an old-school two-big lineup.
He can do it all as a perimeter defender, which has been the biggest problem for the Pacers this season. Aside from Myles Turner and the occasional T.J. McConnell performance, this team has not done a good job defensively. Adding a player like Barnes with length and versatility on that end will do wonders for the defense in the future.
Scottie Barnes has all of the traits to be a stud in the NBA on both ends of the floor and his quickness is a big reason for that. He is also a strong passer and playmaker with the ball which aids his less-than-lethal jump shot that we saw at Florida State.
Barnes did not boast big shooting numbers as a freshman, hitting on just 27.5 percent of his three-point attempts and 62.1 percent of his free throws. The good news for the Pacers, Barnes will not be expected to be a dynamic shot-creator and scorer. They have plenty of those guys on the roster and I would expect most of them to return next season.
Between Caris LeVert, T.J. Warren, and Malcolm Brogdon, the Pacers have enough guys who can score from the perimeter and set up shots for themselves when needed. Barnes would simply be a high-upside guy who can help defend the wing and attack the basket.