Which prospects could the Indiana Pacers eye in a trade up?

Scottie Barnes is the perfect fit for the Indiana Pacers

No matter how you slice it, the Pacers need to get better on the wing and on defense. Scottie Barnes is a player that could help them in both of those spots but would likely be the small-ball four off the bench. If the Pacers do trade one of the centers, playing Barnes in the starting lineup would vastly improve their defense.

Barnes is a 6-foot-8 forward with an admirable 7-foot-3 wingspan that comes in handy on both ends. He stands out as an All-Defensive candidate from the jump that will be an elite defender for a very long time. The only major downside to Barnes in the top 10 is his lack of offensive impact and poor shooting numbers.

While his shooting is poor, Barnes does plenty of other things well on that end. He passes very well for a player of his size and his length helps him get to the rim and finish through contact.

Scottie Barnes is currently projected to go anywhere from the 4th overall pick to the 10th overall pick and it seems clear that he will not be in play for the Pacers at 13th overall. Florida State has turned out some very good wings and defenders in recent years with Barnes potentially being the most impressive of the bunch.

If the Pacers lose Myles Turner in a trade this summer, adding Barnes would help mitigate the loss on defense while allowing Sabonis and others to still run the show on offense. If I had to put my stamp of approval on any player in the top 10 – my opinion means nothing, I know – it would be Scottie Barnes.