Indiana Pacers: Draft or pass? 4 lottery prospects in play
By Luke Parrish
Franz Wagner – Forward (Michigan)
The Pacers need wings in a major way as they plan for the future. While Oshae Brissett and Edmond Sumner have stepped up late this season, they still need to find more bodies that can fill in on the perimeter and contribute on both ends. Franz Wagner is projected to go somewhere in the lottery as one of the top wings in this class.
He brings size at 6-foot-8 and is a good shooter, although not a great one. He averaged 12.5 points for Michigan last season and knocked down 34.3 percent of his three-point attempts but was very reliable at the foul line. There are other shooters in this class that connect at a higher clip than Wagner but he makes plays all over the floor.
He can rebound, pass, and take care of the ball very well for a forward. He will likely find a role as a wing and small-ball four in the NBA, which just so happens to be exactly what the Pacers need. However, his athleticism and contributions on the defensive end do not size up with the other wings at the top of this draft.
The Pacers have to hit on their draft picks at some point with NBA-ready players. Wagner, while he can be a solid player at the next level as an offensive threat, will not bring a ton to the Pacers specifically. With so many offensive-minded players already on the roster, they need to look deeper.
Verdict: Pass