When comparing all factors, which prospect should the Indiana Pacers select this summer?
Between now and the NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers will have plenty of time to develop a board of prospects they prefer. In order to shape that board, they first need to figure out which specific prospects, who are ranked in similar tiers, have the advantage in a head-to-head comparison.
The first pair of prospects to consider for this list have been mocked to the Pacers pretty consistently this offseason. Arkansas wing Moses Moody and Australian point guard Josh Giddey have both been favorites for the Pacers up to this point. Which player is a better fit for the Pacers with the 13th overall pick?
Both have the chance to fill a major role in Indiana for the 2021 season and beyond as the Pacers severely lack depth across the roster. Moody brings shooting and a defensive mentality to the perimeter while Giddey has playmaking upside in the backcourt as the potential point guard of the future.
Making the case for Moses Moody
Moody enters this draft as arguably the best wing available for the Pacers near the bottom of the lottery. There are a few other forwards that should go a few slots above him and likely out of Indiana’s range but if he is on the board at 13, his value for Indiana is through the roof.
He can shoot from the perimeter with a mindset to take over on offense when necessary. As a freshman at Arkansas, Moody scored 16.8 points per game while knocking down 36 percent of his three-point attempts and 81 percent of his free throws. With good size and length on his side, the offensive upside is very enticing for the Pacers.
On top of that, Moody is an excellent defender. Perimeter defending was perhaps the biggest concern for the Pacers last season and having the chance to improve that at this stage of the draft would be the ideal scenario for Indiana.
Moses Moody would be a solid weapon in the second unit next to Oshae Brissett and Justin Holiday, giving Indiana a lot of shooting and defense when the starting five is off the floor. But is Moody a better option than Josh Giddey?
Is Josh Giddey a better option for the Indiana Pacers?
Australian sensation Josh Giddey has also been mocked to the Pacers in recent mock drafts as the long-term answer at point guard. Giddey, a 6-foot-8 ball-handler with remarkable passing ability, could be an immediate impact player in Indiana’s backcourt.
Even with Malcolm Brogdon currently serving as the point guard and Caris LeVert dabbling in that role a bit as well, Indiana lacks a true point guard with a pass-first mentality. Giddey brings that to the table and will likely be available at the end of the lottery.
If the wings are gone and Indiana is forced to choose between the available guards, Josh Giddey probably makes the most sense for the future. Drafting him would also put pressure on Brogdon to step up next season while also giving the Pacers some insurance in case of more injuries in the backcourt.
I firmly believe Brogdon and LeVert both serve better as off-ball guards but LeVert may be more capable of being the primary ball-handler given his ability to create shots. Brogdon is an excellent knockdown shooter with range and the ability to cut to the rim for easy finishes. That said, sliding someone else into the point guard role and allowing those two to thrive elsewhere might be the best fit for the Pacers.
Giddey may not be as valuable to Indiana as a backup guard early on but his value down the road could be immense. In his first season, developing a rapport with second-unit teammates like Goga Bitadze and Justin Holiday could be a huge victory for Indiana.
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.