The Indiana Pacers need to hit on their first draft pick in 2021.
If the Indiana Pacers land a lottery pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, they will have a shot at an instant-impact player. As they enter the play-in tournament, the Pacers are expected to miss the playoffs and wind up at the bottom of the lottery, although anything can happen when the draft order is announced.
With a lot of talent in the lottery and beyond, which prospects should the Pacers be excited about, and which guys should they pass on if they are on the board?
Davion Mitchell – Guard (Baylor)
Arguably the biggest problem for the Pacers this season has been their perimeter defense. With Myles Turner out for the back half of the season, everything has fallen apart on that end of the floor. Davion Mitchell is a name to watch at the end of the lottery, the range the Pacers should plan on selecting.
Unless things go really well in the lottery draw, the Pacers will probably be picking in the 10-14 range of this draft but there will be plenty of talent to be had. Mitchell is an incredible two-way guard with a knack for steals and tough defending on that end. His ability to shoot from the perimeter is just the cherry on top.
Mitchell would be a solid backup to Malcolm Brogdon and the leader of the bench unit assuming T.J. McConnell leaves in free agency. He could also be capable of starting next to Caris LeVert if Brogdon is traded at some point this offseason or in the future.
Of all the guards in Indiana’s range, Mitchell is the guy to hope for in this draft class because he brings everything this team is currently lacking.
Verdict: Draft
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
Scottie Barnes – Forward (Florida State)
Drafting a hybrid forward to play at the four should be in play for the Pacers whether they keep Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis together or not. If they split them up, bringing in Scottie Barnes makes perfect sense. He could create an elite defensive pairing with Turner or be the defensive four while Sabonis plays the five.
His size and lateral ability on that end of the floor make him a dangerous defender capable of stealing passes and getting into transition in a hurry. There is some work to do with Barnes’ skill set on offense as he is not a great shooter but his ability to drive and find open teammates will have value.
Barnes has enough in his bag on offense to be a threat. Pairing that with his elite defensive upside makes for a bright future in the NBA. In the range of the Pacers in the lottery, this would be a home run selection.
They could use Barnes off the bench as the backup four that leads that second unit but could also slide him into the starting lineup whenever injuries arise, which is destined to happen. T.J. Warren is set to hit the free-agent market after next season and the Pacers could look to replace him with a younger option in this draft.
Verdict: Draft
Jalen Johnson – Forward (Duke)
Jalen Johnson is an exciting but worrisome prospect in the lottery. His size and athleticism are a dangerous pairing for a player with his skill set. Johnson thrives as a cutter who can attack the basket as well as anyone while also being a very skillful passer in the frontcourt.
He does a great job of finding the open space on the offensive end and getting easy buckets down low. His vision as a passer is hard to pass up, especially for a player with his length. After rebounds and steals, Johnson is an excellent outlet passer and transition starter as a point forward.
There will be concerns about his leadership and character after he opted out midway through the season but we never know the full story. The on-the-court things that concern me with Johnson are his shooting struggles and turnovers. He is not a good three-point shooter and his struggles at the free-throw line indicate that shooting may never be a strength.
Johnson also finished his season with more turnovers than assists which is never a good thing. With limited experience at the college level, it could take a while for Johnson to catch up to the speed of the NBA while his weaknesses get exposed.
I am also not a fan of a potential Johnson-Sabonis pairing in the frontcourt since their strengths mirror each other. Having two ball-dominant big men with questions defensively and as shooters would not be ideal.
Verdict: Pass