The 2022 NBA Draft Lottery is just a flick away, and the Indiana Pacers have to be thrilled about their chances as they are guaranteed to finish with a top-nine selection for the first time in over 30 years.
Better yet, this upcoming draft is filled with high-ceiling prospects who fill positions of need for the Blue and Gold. Nothing is guaranteed of course, but the ping-pong balls are likely to be more favorable to the Pacers this time after the team posted one of their worst regular season finishes in franchise history.
That being said, after three mock drafts, here is our look at the NBA Draft Big Board for the Pacers as they head to a climactic draft lottery.
NBA Draft Big Board: Who should the primary target be for the Indiana Pacers?
10. Jeremy Sochan, Baylor (SF/PF)
Jeremy Sochan is one hell of a scrapper. Particularly active on defense, the 6’9 forward is a solid athlete who should thrive on the break. While he’s not the best perimeter threat out there, he makes up for it with a versatile scoring profile.
9. Tari Eason, LSU (PF)
Draft forecasts for Tari Eason have wildly varied, but I have him sitting at ninth in the Indiana Pacers’ Big Board. His shooting is still a work in progress, but his upside as a defender, scorer, as well as his above average court awareness makes him a good fit for the team should they crash in the lottery.
8. Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona (SG)
Arizona’s Bennedict Mathurin is an athletic swingman who can be a radioactive scorer. His shooting and ball handling are very solid for his stature, and while he can be quite streaky, his upside as a scorer is worth looking out for.
7. AJ Griffin, Duke (SF)
One of the best shooters in this draft class, Duke’s AJ Griffin is an athletic wing who can also defend multiple positions with ease. Probably the quintessential 3-and-D type in the upcoming draft, Griffin seems to be a perfect fit for many teams in the lottery.
NBA Draft Big Board for the Indiana Pacers (6-4)
6. Shaedon Sharpe, Kentucky (SG)
Shaedon Sharpe could easily land in a higher draft spot, but the Indiana Pacers should probably not have him as high on their priority lists given their more pressing needs in the frontcourt. Still, should they get a lower selection, Sharpe should be picked as long as he remains on the board.
5. Jaden Ivey, Purdue (SG)
Jaden Ivey’s fiery scoring could make him the favored selection for teams in need of a backcourt catalyst. And while he could certainly thrive next to Tyrese Haliburton, having Chris Duarte and their veteran cogs in the backcourt makes him more of a luxury than a necessity for Indiana.
4. Keegan Murray, Iowa (PF)
Keegan Murray has been the fastest riser in most mock drafts, and that certainly holds stronger credence with the Pacers. Easily the best frontcourt prospect outside the undisputed top-three, Murray would be a tremendous consolation for Indiana with his extraordinary versatility.
NBA Draft Big Board for the Indiana Pacers (3-1)
3. Paolo Banchero, Duke (PF)
Paolo Banchero will be a popular target for most teams as the top prize in the 2022 NBA Draft. The Duke standout projects to be nightly double-double machine. And on top of that, he has no glaring weaknesses to his game.
2. Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga (C)
Skeptics will point to Chet Holmgren’s physique as a bit of a turn-off, but the 7’0 prospect easily boasts the highest upside among everyone in the draft pool. Aside from his elite shot-blocking, Holmgren is an adept scorer in the post, a solid passer, and is sneakily mobile as a defender and rebounder.
1. Jabari Smith, Auburn (PF)
Jabari Smith is the most NBA-ready prospect among his peers. His unique combination of size and skill predicated on his three-level scoring should make him a tremendous threat right from the get go. Smith is also a very good and versatile defender. Overall, he is tabbed to be a capable primary scoring option in the league for a long time.