Indiana Pacers: 3 prospects to avoid in the 2021 NBA Draft
By Luke Parrish
The Indiana Pacers should not draft Corey Kispert
I am a big fan of Corey Kispert and what he brings to the offensive end of the floor. He is one of the draft’s best shooters and will have a defined role in the NBA as a bench unit scorer. However, his entire draft profile is one that makes me worry about his fit with the Pacers.
Indiana already has plenty of scorers on the roster that will demand touches next season. T.J. Warren returning to the lineup just adds one more high-impact scorer to a unit that set a franchise record for points per game a season ago. Targeting another scoring threat with so many other glaring holes to fill would be a mistake.
Sure, Kispert can be a very good role player at the next level and will probably have some big nights in the box score but Indiana simply does not need him. There will be other lottery players available at 13th overall that warrant a selection from Indiana. And while Kispert is a good wing option at that spot, there are others who provide more of what Indiana is currently lacking.
The Pacers need to focus on defense and playmaking in this draft but shooting cannot be overstated. It is, quite literally, the key to winning in the NBA. At the same time, drafting a player who is primarily an off-ball shooter when you already have Warren, Caris LeVert, Malcolm Brogdon, and potentially Doug McDermott on the roster is unwarranted.
Players like Moses Moody or James Bouknight make more sense for the current roster. Indiana needs players with a high floor but also a high ceiling, which is obviously hard to find this late in the lottery.