If the Indiana Pacers trade up in the 2021 NBA Draft, who could they be targeting?
Once again, the Indiana Pacers are in the rumor mill regarding a trade. This time, however, the trade involves their first-round draft pick and a potential move into the top-10 of the 2021 NBA Draft. The Golden State Warriors are a likely candidate for a trade with the Pacers as they hold two lottery picks and could be looking to add a proven veteran for another title run.
The Warriors still have a good chance to make a run next year with Klay Thompson returning to the lineup after injuries derailed his career. If they want to trade their first-round pick for a proven player, particularly in the frontcourt, the Pacers are the perfect match. Whether Myles Turner or Domantas Sabonis are involved, the Pacers could walk away with a good haul from Golden State.
With rumors that the Pacers are indeed interested in either trading up into the top 10 or even moving out of the first round completely, it is worth diving into the potential prospects that could be targeted in a move up.
It is no secret that the higher the pick, the better odds of landing a top-tier prospect and securing the player the Pacers want. Which current 2021 NBA Draft prospects should the Pacers trade up for?
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.
James Bouknight is a fun option for the Indiana Pacers
UConn’s James Bouknight is surging up boards in the final weeks before the NBA Draft and his offensive upside should land him inside the top 10. The Pacers could use another scoring threat in the backcourt even if they would play him off the bench as a rookie. With the two starting guards set in stone barring a trade, Bouknight could become a bench killer.
His blend of athleticism and shot-creation make Bouknight a promising weapon for the future. His three-point shooting numbers are a bit concerning but the rest of his game is too good to pass up. He averaged 18.7 points last season despite shooting just 29.3 percent from deep.
Given that Bouknight hit nearly 35 percent of his threes as a freshman and hovered around 80 percent from the foul line in college, there is reason to believe he is capable of shooting well but just has not tapped into it yet.
Turnovers were a major problem in college but the Pacers could use Bouknight as an off-ball scoring threat with slashing ability. With his offense being as promising as it is, the defensive upside tips the scale for Bouknight.
He tallied 1.1 steals and 5.7 rebounds last season, proving that his length and athleticism help him on the other end of the floor. With Indiana’s struggles on the glass last season, adding a rebound-hungry guard will help them immensely.
The Indiana Pacers should go all out for Jalen Suggs
Trading up into the top five to land a point guard would be a head-scratching move for the Pacers but I would still be a fan of the move. Jalen Suggs was a do-it-all guard at Gonzaga and should be a lock to go in the first five selections on Thursday. His 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists helped lead the Zags to a near-perfect season.
Suggs shined as the lead guard at Gonzaga but was also not shy of splitting the ball-handling duties and letting his teammates take control. That instantly makes me love his fit with the Pacers given the need to feed Caris LeVert, Malcolm Brogdon, and Domantas Sabonis. Add T.J. Warren back to the mix and the Pacers will potentially have five players who can handle the ball and create points.
Indiana does not need a point guard right now but they could in the future. A trade of Malcolm Brogdon should be on the table given his injury concerns but even drafting someone who can step in and contribute would be worth the risk.
Suggs gets to the rim with ease, finishes well when he does, and can be a deadly offensive threat when he gets cooking. He is very polished as the floor general while being a force on the defensive end. In 30 games last season, Suggs averaged 1.9 steals per game and shot 58.8 percent from inside the arc.
The Pacers could really use a player with a floor as high as Suggs’. Not to mention he has a very high ceiling and could very well end up as the best player from this draft class. Will he last beyond the top five and fall into trade-up range for the Pacers or will they have to make a massive leap to get him?