2022 NBA Draft Mock roundup for the Pacers before the lottery

2. Jabari Smith, Auburn

Outlet: 8 Points, 9 Seconds (3rd overall)

In our latest mock draft, Zach Pearson had Auburn’s Jabari Smith going to the Indiana Pacers with the third overall selection. We have long professed our preference for Smith as the best prospect for the Pacers, and that still holds true at large with the draft nearing.

A natural four, Smith not only fills a position of need for Indiana, but he brings with him a unique skillset as a very talented scorer who can hit shots from any spot on the floor. That being said, given his tremendous potential, I would not be opposed to the Pacers picking him as soon as possible.

3. Keegan Murray, Iowa

Outlet: Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, ESPN & Sports Illustrated (5th overall)

Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated all have Keegan Murray landing with the Indiana Pacers as the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. The Iowa standout has been a popular choice among Pacers fans, with many expressing desire for him to be picked by the team should they fall out of the top four.

Undisputedly the best forward prospect in the upcoming rookie pool outside the Banchero-Holmgren-Smith troika, Murray is a flexible frontcourt piece who is proactive and mobile defensively. On offense, he has a nifty touch inside, while he also boasts a developing perimeter game that should make him a good fit in the Circle City.