Indiana Pacers: Jaden Ivey is still their best realistic NBA Draft target

Over the past week or so, we have enumerated some of the prospects that the Indiana Pacers should have on their radar with the sixth overall selection in the 2022 NBA Draft. Even without making a trade, the team is poised to pick a good prospect who should set the franchise up better for the future.

However, despite the multiple options that Indiana’s brass has, one player is simply a cut from the rest. Purdue product Jaden Ivey, tabbed as the best backcourt cog in the current rookie pool, is still arguably the best and most realistic player that the Pacers can pick at their current standing.

Jaden Ivey is still the ideal piece for the Indiana Pacers at No. 6

Undoubtedly, the Indiana Pacers have more pressing concerns to address in their frontcourt, but Jaden Ivey is easily the most talented prospect after the consensus top-three. And with a rare lottery appearance, it could be in the team’s best interest

As mentioned here before, the 6’4 guard’s skill set fits well with what the Pacers currently trot out. Touting an electric scoring profile with his eye-popping athleticism, explosive first step, improved jump shot, and good court vision, Ivey could be the dream player to pair with Tyrese Haliburton and Chris Duarte in the perimeter spots.

The tricky part for the Pacers in this regard, however, is ensuring that they are still in the running for Ivey. The two teams above them in the draft selection order, the Sacramento Kings and the Detroit Pistons, are also ideal fits for the Purdue standout. Hoping that both teams shun him completely and veer away from most projections would be quite the gamble. A bad gamble.

Hence, trying to whip up a trade to move up in the 2022 NBA Draft remains the best route for Indiana to have their hands on Ivey. The holders of the top three picks are very unlikely to dangle their selections anyway, making the fourth pick the most realistic target for the Pacers to zoom on in.

The Indiana Pacers will have a robust field to pluck from in the upcoming NBA Draft, but given where they’re currently projected to pick, as well as their realistic alternatives, going after Jaden Ivey should remain their priority.