The 13th overall pick might be a hidden gem for the Indiana Pacers.
Prior to the NBA Draft Lottery, the Indiana Pacers are projected to hold the 13th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. While they will likely miss out on the top prospects in this class, they have a lot to look forward to if they do stick at 13th.
Sure, Indiana could use a superstar from the top of the draft that they can build around for the future. Any time you get the chance to grab a young star with loads of potential, optimism is reset into a sinking franchise. Cade Cunningham or Jalen Suggs would be incredible additions to this Pacers team at the top of the draft.
The simple truth is, the Pacers never really get to pick at the top of the draft. Most of their work has been done later in the lottery or through trades, especially in recent memory. Paul George and Myles Turner were the last Pacers selections to come out of the lottery but neither were top-four choices.
Paul George was selected 10th overall back in 2010 and Turner was chosen 11th overall in 2015. Indiana does not do particularly well in the first round of the draft either, missing on guys like T.J. Leaf and Solomon Hill while also trading away the picks that netted Kawhi Leonard and Caris LeVert.
This year, the Pacers have a chance to turn that history around with another late lottery selection at a draft slot that has done pretty well in recent years. Before the lottery is finalized, let’s take a look at some recent selections with the 13th overall pick in hopes of shifting the hope to the Pacers’ future.
Tyler Herro – 13th overall in 2019
Not every pick has been perfect, obviously, as there is always a bit of a guessing game in the lottery. Picking 13th is not a guaranteed success for any team, especially a Pacers organization that has proven to miss on key picks. However, just two years ago a high-impact rookie was found in this slot.
Tyler Herro landed in the lap of the Miami Heat back in 2019 and was an absolute game-changer in the NBA Bubble that same season. As a part-time starter but full-time key rotational guy, Herro has been exactly what the Heat had hoped for. Herro is shooting 37.5 percent from deep in his career while averaging 15.1 points per game in his sophomore season.
Miami has the foundation already in place to take a chance on a guy like Herro who entered the draft as a knockdown shooter with short arms and it paid off for them. Now, Herro is capable of popping off every now and again while always being involved in the offense.
In his rookie season, Herro showed up on the big stage and helped Miami to the NBA Finals with some incredible performances in the playoffs. He scored a career-high 37 points in a Game 4 victory over the Celtics.
There is certainly a fandom surrounding Herro in just his second season. His shooting numbers may not be as high as some would expect but getting 15 points off the bench would be a huge boost to any NBA roster.
Donovan Mitchell – 13th overall in 2017
Two years before Herro, the Utah Jazz were gifted their franchise cornerstone with the 13th overall pick. Donovan Mitchell slid into the perfect situation and has emerged as one of the best young players in the NBA today.
Mitchell was an immediate starter for Utah, starting in all but eight games since he joined the NBA. Through four seasons, Mitchell has averaged 23.4 points per game and has never been below 20.5 points per game in one season.
There has been a steady improvement from Mitchell as a shooter and scorer in each of his four seasons so far. Since his rookie season, Mitchell’s three-point percentage has gradually increased from 34.0 to 38.6 while his points have improved each season from 20.5 to 26.4 this past season.
Donovan Mitchell does it all for Utah and has helped lead them to the top seed in the Western Conference. As a solid two-way combo guard, Mitchell is certainly one of the best young players in the NBA.
Age was probably too much of a factor in his draft slide as he was 21 years old when he finished his first season. If a player as valuable as Mitchell is available at 13th overall, the Pacers would have to take him. 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists from a rookie would be far too good to pass up.
Devin Booker – 2015 NBA Draft
Go back two more years and you get another young scoring machine in Devin Booker. That two-year gap pattern is also looking very promising for the Pacers if I do say so myself. Booker, who is the same age as Donovan Mitchell, was selected two years earlier and has also helped turn his franchise around over the years.
Booker took a bit to get his feet under him at the next level but things have gone quite well since he joined the starting lineup with the Suns. Aside from his first season, Booker has averaged more than 22 points per game in every season.
He knows how to find his shots and does a great job of getting to the foul line, which has been a big factor for him in the past three seasons. Since the 2018-19 season, Booker has shot 88.6 percent from the foul line on 6.7 attempts per game.
Similar to Herro, Booker has not been as consistent of a three-point shooter as some had expected but that has not limited his ability to score. Booker is a two-time All-Star that can easily reach 30 points on any given night. In fact, he can go as high as 70 points in one performance if he really wants to.
His playoff resume is still building as he has only played in two such games but Booker has scored 34 and 31 points in his two chances. If he can prove to be a killer in key moments, Booker will be a franchise savior in Phoenix.
Zach LaVine – 2014 NBA Draft
The last notable player to be selected 13th overall, at least in recent memory, is Zach LaVine. LaVine was not quite a star in Minnesota but has become that kind of player with the Bulls in the past few years. After not reaching 19 points per game in his first four seasons, LaVine has now averaged at least 23.7 points in each of the last three years.
This past season, LaVine really took off. He scored 27.4 points and had a career-high 4.9 assists per game while also having his best season as a shooter. He knocked down over 50 percent of his field goals and a staggering 41.9 percent of his threes while earning his first All-Star appearance.
LaVine is rightfully known for his ability to jump out of the gym and leave spectators in shock. His newfound jump shot has been incredible to see. He has become sort of a Pacers killer, so if he remains in Chicago, the future in Indiana certainly looks a little scarier.
Not every draft pick is going to be a star right away and sometimes the situation matters a bit more than others but Zach LaVine has finally started to show why many around the league view him as a cornerstone.
Other notable selections since 2000
There have been a few other notable players selected 13th overall since 2000 who either never became stars or were too far back to really consider in the “recent history” of this piece. Kelly Olynyk, whether you like him or not, has been a rotational big in the NBA since 2013 and has proven to be a solid stretch-big option.
Markieff Morris has bounced around a bit since 2011 but always seems to be the targeted veteran at the trade deadline that can help a team over the hump. Last season, he moved from Detroit to Los Angeles to help the Lakers win the title.
Pacers fans should be familiar with back-to-back 13th overall selections in 2008 and 2009. Brandon Rush (2008) had a few solid years with the Pacers as a starter and off the bench before spending the rest of his career out west. Tyler Hansbrough (2009) spent his first four NBA seasons with Indiana as the bench big with a mean streak.
In 2001, Richard Jefferson was the 13th overall pick for the Houston Rockets and was traded to the Nets. Jefferson spent 17 seasons in the league and averaged 12.6 points across those 17 years. From 2003-2009, Jefferson averaged 19.7 points and 5.3 assists.