Indiana Pacers: Pros and cons of drafting NBA Draft prospect Josh Giddey

How NBA Draft prospect Josh Giddey’s unique skillset can benefit the Indiana Pacers

Playmaking is Josh Giddey’s best skill and given the Indiana Pacers’ offensive improvement last season despite their turbulent campaign, he should fit in nicely with many of the team’s schemes, most notably with pushing the pace, where the Blue and Gold ranked fourth last season, and with ball movement, where the team finished an impressive second in the league.

In the spirit of clarity, Giddey’s passing is not a raw facet of his game—it is his primary strength and only figures to be even better than advertised as he immerses in the learning curve of the NBA game. As a rookie, he should be a more than serviceable complement to the team’s diverse set of scorers even in limited minutes.

Hypothetically, Giddey can play in spurts as a part of the bench that plays with much more dynamic ball movement and faster overall pace. Even when the ball is not in his hands to directly make a read, his improving outside shot should be enough to punish defenders who are sagging off to slow down the likes of Doug McDermott and Domantas Sabonis, who both spearhead the scoring attack against opposing benches.

Also, while Indiana wasn’t among the league’s most turnover-prone teams, the Aussie guard’s impressive ball handling and patience to make the right read while not forcing to tread a difficult pass bodes well for the Pacers’ motion offense, both when the game slows down in the half court and the pace lights up in the open floor.