The Indiana Pacers will have the 6th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft

After many months of anxiously waiting, the Indiana Pacers will pick 6th in the 2022 NBA draft. The Pacers just missed out on the top five, but at least they didn’t fall much lower.

For the first time in the franchise’s long history, the Indiana Pacers will pick 6th in the NBA draft.

There are a few notable names that were selected with the sixth overall pick in the past few NBA drafts. Josh Giddey, Jonathan Issac, Mo Bamba, Marcus Smart, Damian Lillard, and current Pacer Buddy Hield to name a few players.

I would be lying if I said it wasn’t somewhat disappointing to miss out on drafting in the top five of this year’s draft. Maybe the front office has plans to move up with some assets they have on deck? The new face of the Pacers franchise chimes in to share his thoughts on where Indiana landed in the draft, which was rather hilarious.

Looking at the lottery optimistically, at least the Pacers didn’t draft any lower than 6th. I think it is a safe bet barring any outside factors Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero, and Jabari Smith will be off the board for Indiana.

The draft order will be the following:

1. Magic
2. Thunder
3. Rockets
4. Kings
5. Pistons
6. Pacers

If Sacremento doesn’t decide to pick one of the top guards in this draft, then maybe Indiana can find itself in a position to select one of Jaden Ivey or Shaedon Sharpe. They would both be great options at pick No. 6 as our contributor Alex Golden suggests.

Pacers President of Basketball Operation Kevin Pritchard held a press conference after the lottery took place where he shared his thoughts on the lottery itself.

"James Boyd of the IndyStar reports on his comments: “We’re going to work. We’re gonna kick butt. We’re not messing around. I think we showed last year that we’re willing to move and toggle to get where we want to get.” Pacers’ president Kevin Pritchard said."

Pritchard was also asked about the ability to get players into workouts for the Indiana Pacers being the small market team that they are. He didn’t seem worried in his answer.

"“I would be shocked if we don’t get the guy in that we are going to draft. I would be shocked. I think a lot of agents and people around the league see our direction and see our optionality and say ‘that might be a place I want to go’."

Pritchard also mentioned that the front office organically met with a few players at the draft lottery and that they received substantially positive feedback from certain players that said they want to come to Indiana and get the pre-draft process started. He mentioned having picks 6, 31, and 58 followed by “Do we really have those, or do we get really aggressive”?

The organization seems to suggest that moving around in this draft is something they would explore. Pritchard reportedly said all cards are now on the table, so I expect the busy offseason in Indiana to be busier than anticipated.