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

Should the Indiana Pacers select NBA Draft prospect Josh Giddey with the 13th overall pick

Long story short, the Indiana Pacers should avoid zeroing in on Josh Giddey as the first option for the 13th overall pick come draft night. In this deep pool of prospects, the team can still find other players who fit the bill of what they need much better than the 6’8 playmaker. Even though his upside is high, the risk is similarly lofty, and there are certainly other teams who present more logical fits for the 18-year old.

Giddey’s skillset comes alongside the influx of jumbo all-around playmakers in the league and despite the encouraging precedents for players with skillsets similar to his, the Blue and Gold should treat him as a perfect consolation prize in the draft, instead of a definitive selection.

Prospects like Moses Moody, Jalen Johnson and Ziaire Williams, among many others, present more sensible team fits with their in-demand skillsets that are arguably easier to incorporate in an NBA squad, even in a veteran-filled roster such as Indiana’s. Intangibles aside, with the Pacers invested in winning in the present, the team may not be keen on passing up other prospects who can immediately contribute for a high-risk, high-reward player like Giddey.

However, if push comes to shove and Indiana’s prime targets are not on the board as they pick, then selecting Josh Giddey will not be the worst maneuver. Nevertheless, he is best served as a secondary choice in the draft with the 13th pick for the Pacers, though he may very well be selected earlier than when the team is on deck with his intriguing potential.