It’s official. Following the NBA Draft Lottery, the Indiana Pacers will officially be selecting sixth on draft night, a slight drop-off for a team with the fifth-best odds at the top selection.
Many are relatively underwhelmed with the results of the lottery, but the Pacers, as many pointed out, could’ve been in a worse position. Nevertheless, Indiana will have its highest draft selection in more than 30 years.
The upcoming draft has a firmly set top-thre (Smith, Holmgren, and Banchero), but the Pacers still have a good crop of prospects to choose from. Here are the three best players that they should target with the sixth overall pick.
1. Shaedon Sharpe will galvanize the Indiana Pacers scoring profile
Shaedon Sharpe’s draft forecasts have varied, but he remains a constant in the top six at least. Boasting an exuberant scoring game, the Kentucky standout has what it takes to amplify the Pacers’ backcourt, as his raw talent as a scorer, length and size, and finishing ability will be an easy fit to envision in Rick Carlisle’s favored attack.
While having Chris Duarte evokes a bit of an overlap, there’s enough variance with Sharpe’s game to justify the Pacers targeting him with the sixth overall selection. For a backcourt rotation primarily headed by gunners and spot-up shooter, Sharpe’s bouncy game could be what unlocks the potential of Indiana’s new run-and-gun style.
2. The Indiana Pacers could build a dynamic backcourt by adding Jaden Ivey
Jaden Ivey’s draft stock has never really declined one bit. The 2022 NBA Draft class is simply loaded with three high-upside big man prospects who figure to be immediate stars in the big league.
With most of the teams in the top five having more urgent needs to bolster their frontcourt, the Indiana Pacers could swim against the tide (and their own tide) by nabbing Jaden Ivey with the sixth pick should he remain available. While it is unlikely, Ivey is a fiery scoring guard whose profile is reminiscent of some of the league’s brightest young stars.
With Tyrese Haliburton right next to him, the Pacers could have a dynamic backcourt to build on for years to come by adding the Purdue alum. His explosiveness and three-level scoring ability are his biggest selling points. While his defense can waver at times, he is a pesky on-ball defender who read passing lanes well and ignite fast breaks. Just imagine him operating on the open floor with Haliburton.
3. The Indiana Pacers could select fast-riser Keegan Murray
My personal favorite for the Indiana Pacers at pick number six, Iowa product Keegan Murray arguably makes the most sense for the team among the three players fit-wise. It’s no secret that the Pacers brass will explore all options to shore up their thin frontcourt group, and drafting Murray could be a giant step for that cause.
While listed as a power forward, do not get caught up by such categorization. Murray has an impressive range of skills as a frontcourt player, meaning that he should be able to man both forward positions with ease, something the Pacers clearly lack in the present as they spent the entire season opting for alternatives instead of mainstays for the role.
With Murray, Indiana will have a versatile, do-it-all forward who can defend multiple positions, score in space with his athleticism, fire away from the perimeter, and read defensive schemes. Better yet, he’s not a possession magnet. With his court awareness at an above average level among his peers, he does not need the ball in his hands to move the needle on the floor.