Indiana Pacers: 3 NBA Draft prospects who may surprisingly fall to 13th

Defensive menace Davion Mitchell may come falling to the Indiana Pacers

Various mock drafts project a highly temperamental range for Baylor standout Davion Mitchell. Profiled as arguably the best perimeter defender among his peers, the 6’2 playmaker is forecasted to be selected in the 5-10 range in most sports outlets.

However, the odds of a slight freefall for the speedy guard is quite realistic. Among teams who possess the fifth to 12th picks in the draft, only the New Orleans Pelicans have an urgent need for a guard. Most teams in front of the Pacers are either set in the backcourt (Warriors, Kings, Hornets and Spurs) or are already developing an intriguing backcourt (Magic and Thunder).

While the backcourt is not an urgent hole to fill for Indiana, they would be hard-pressed to find a better talent than Mitchell if he’s still on board at 13th. Hypothetically, he can serve as the team’s de facto sixth or seventh man on the roster to replace the free agent-to-be TJ McConnell and slide in as a starter to fill the shoes of the team’s oft-injured guards. Most importantly, he can be the asset that hoists the Pacers back to their defensive identity.