Indiana Pacers draft options: Moses Moody vs. Josh Giddey

Which prospect is a better fit for the Indiana Pacers?

As much as I like both prospects and hate to have to pick one this early in the draft process, I think Moses Moody is the clear leader in this debate. Given his current draft projection and the glaring hole on Indiana’s roster, his value at 13th overall is an absolute steal for the Pacers.

The Pacers are notorious for not playing their draft picks in recent years but a new coaching staff should hopefully change that trend. Moody, if selected, could come in and be the immediate replacement for Doug McDermott as the bench scorer while also having enough talent on both ends to start depending on the roster.

If Indiana keeps both centers, then Moody is clearly a bench option in 2021. However, if one of the centers is traded and the Pacers have an open spot in the starting five, Moody could very well compete for the starting four spot next to T.J. Warren. Giddey, if selected, likely would not crack the starting lineup unless an injury arises in his first season, which is not that difficult to imagine.

Starting a group of Brogdon, LeVert, Moody, Warren, and Turner/Sabonis would give Indiana a little bit of everything. Most importantly, it gives Moody early playing time to get his feet wet and put NBA minutes under his belt before his career washes away on the bench.

This is a tough question to answer but positional value and the shape of the current roster pushes Moody into the top prospect for Indiana. I would even argue he is the best option for them at 13th overall among the realistic scenarios.