Indiana Pacers: How does Oshae Brissett change the draft?

Oshae Brissett was one of the best midseason acquisitions in the NBA in 2020-21, lending a helping hand to the Indiana Pacers. With his versatility on both ends, Brissett brings a lot to a team that is in search of athletic wings for the future.

By no means is Brissett a star in this league but he did show glimpses of being a reliable two-way weapon for a team that desperately needs one. As they enter the lottery for the first time in a while, should Brissett alter the way they attack the 2021 NBA Draft?

Does Oshae Brissett change how the Indiana Pacers should draft?

It would be pretty absurd to base your draft strategy around a player that may not even start next season but that could be the case with Brissett to a degree. The Pacers, for most of the 2020-21 season, were seen as a team in dire need of a two-way wing with the focus being on defending the perimeter. Oshae Brissett offers exactly that while also being just 23 years old when next season tips off.

The Pacers are projected to pick 13th overall with a very slim chance of getting into the top four picks. That would leave them slightly out of the range of the top wings, including Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. Scottie Barnes, who is another strong defender, is probably just out of Indiana’s reach as well.

This is where Brissett comes into play. Having him on the roster should hopefully deter the Pacers from reaching at another wing in the next tier of the 2021 class. Rather than reaching for need and taking Franz Wagner or maybe even Corey Kispert, who lacks athleticism but can shoot the lights out.

By avoiding a wing simply because it’s a position of need, Indiana could look elsewhere for defensive and/or shooting help. Baylor guards Davion Mitchell and Jared Butler are both guys who can defend on the perimeter and knock down shots in the backcourt, giving Indiana more scoring options off the bench.

Josh Giddey, the Australian phenom, is another young guard who could be in play for Indiana as the playmaker of the future. This, in theory, would also open the door for a potential trade of Malcolm Brogdon at some point along the way.

Whether the Pacers want to build around Domantas Sabonis, Caris LeVert, or T.J. Warren, the arrival of Oshae Brissett may be the most important piece in finalizing the draft board. But of course, never draft simply for need, and do not pass a player up because your roster is already deep at that particular spot.