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Indiana Pacers: Grading the franchise’s last 4 drafts

By Luke Parrish

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 08: T.J. Leaf #22 of the Indiana Pacers is seen during the game against the Detroit Pistons at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 8, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 08: T.J. Leaf #22 of the Indiana Pacers is seen during the game against the Detroit Pistons at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 8, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers, Aaron Holiday – Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Indiana Pacers 2018 Draft

First-round selection: Aaron Holiday

Second-round selection: Alize Johnson

This might be the toughest draft class to grade in this group. Aaron Holiday was a promising young ball handler heading into his third season before regressing in 2020-21. He never took hold of the second unit and was even knocked out of the rotation for a period last season.

If Holiday continued on his trajectory after the 2019-20 season, I think we would be looking at this draft class a lot differently.

On the other hand, the selection of Alize Johnson and that evaluation offers a lot of questions of its own. Johnson may not have been a key piece in Indiana but the talent has always been there. For a second-round pick with low expectations, Johnson has made the most of every opportunity he has gotten at the next level.

From one standpoint, the Pacers botched the Alize pick by not giving him minutes and letting him walk. At the same time, they found a pretty good forward with the 50th pick in the draft.

Draft grade: C+

I wish this grade could be higher but given that neither guy was really an impactful player for Indiana just three years after they were selected, there’s not really any way you can give them a high evaluation. Johnson has done a great job of sticking in the NBA while Holiday may be on his way out of Indiana but he did give them two pretty decent years off the bench.

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