Indiana Pacers: What to expect from Chris Duarte in 2021

With the 13th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers selected Oregon guard Chris Duarte.

After a lot of intrigue leading up to the NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers kept their first-round draft pick and selected Oregon’s Chris Duarte. Duarte, 24, averaged 17.1 points per game in his sophomore season with the Ducks.

With his upside not being as promising as other players in the lottery due to his age, his experience and readiness for the NBA will be important to Indiana moving forward. Indiana struggled on the defensive end of the floor last season and Duarte, an All-Defense player in the Pac 12, is ready to change that.

Duarte racked up 1.9 steals and 0.8 blocks last season at Oregon, giving his team a huge boost on that end. On offense, he was a deadly scorer that could get hot at any given moment. He scored at least 21 points in 11 games last season while shooting 42.4 percent from beyond the arc.

With a hot hand from deep and some help coming on the perimeter defense, it is no secret that the Pacers drafted for a need. They will have a role for Duarte next season regardless of what happens the rest of the offseason.

What will Chris Duarte bring to the Indiana Pacers next season?

I’ll be honest, this selection was a bit of a shock to me. Duarte was the type of prospect that I thought would be ready to help a contender as a bench scorer that could make an immediate impact. Unfortunately, I don’t think the Pacers are that kind of team.

They leaned into yet another safe pick without taking a risk on the upside in a younger player, which is the goal of the lottery. With so few opportunities to get into the lottery, wasting this year’s chance to land the future of the franchise was a bit tough to stomach.

But that does not mean Duarte cannot or will not be a good player for this team. Whether Doug McDermott re-signs in free agency or not, the Pacers have a good scoring option in the second unit. With as many injuries as they have endured lately, finding a player who can start when called upon is a solid move.

I can see Duarte getting into the rotation next to McDermott or Justin Holiday while being a massive upgrade on defense from Jeremy Lamb and Aaron Holiday. His size, mixed with shooting talent, is enough to get him on the floor.

Having a bench unit with Edmond Sumner, Oshae Brissett, and Chris Duarte could do wonders on the defensive end. If Goga Bitadze continues to improve as a shot-blocker, that second unit could be very good.

For now, Duarte’s expectations should be fairly tame with an emphasis on his bench presence and hot stroke. I do not think it is fair to assume he will replace or replicate what Doug McDermott has done for Indiana recently, although his arrival may force McDermott out of the door in free agency as the Pacers need to clear up playing time.

If he can pour in 6-10 points per game while being a positive defender, Indiana should be pleased. Adding his threat to score from the perimeter, which Indiana also lacks, will open things up for the primary ball-handlers and help spread the floor a bit.

The Indiana Pacers got an NBA-ready player who can step up to the plate immediately. While that may not be the direction I would have chosen, I can certainly see why they fell in love with him in the pre-draft process.

Duarte could be the first Pacers draft pick to make an immediate impact in a few years after some bad drafts.