Indiana Pacers: 3 worst case NBA Draft day scenarios

Worst-case scenario #1: The Indiana Pacers trade down in the first-round

Trading down is only acceptable when the picks in questions aren’t too far away from each other. However, despite multiple teams owning more than one first-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers should resort to staying put at 13th unless an opportunity to trade up without paying a price that is too heavy emerges.

The Houston Rockets own back-to-back selections in the first round with the 23rd and 24th picks while the New York Knicks have the 19th and 21st picks. Also, the Oklahoma City Thunder own the 16th and 18th selection in the draft.

Those may be attractive partners to trade down with, but it makes little sense for the Pacers to expedite two rookies taken outside the lottery in a stacked roster when they can simply select one lottery talent and avoid attaching an asset to facilitate a trade.