NBA Draft: The Indiana Pacers could take a flier on this under-the-radar shooter

The Indiana Pacers own three selections in the 2022 NBA Draft, something that they could use to reshape the roster and improve the team heading into next season. With three chances to draft a possible contributor for the following campaign, they could use one of their lower picks to assess what they need and pick someone who can fill that need.

Last season, the Pacers didn’t shy away from deep, shooting 35.4 three-pointers per game, good for 15th in the league and a clear development from the team’s previous derision from rainbow country. The higher number of attempts, however, has not necessarily resulted in a more efficient attack, with Indiana converting at just 34.4 percent on treys, a mark that ranks a meager 24th in the association.

With a need to bolster three-point shooting, the Indiana Pacers could take a flier on this shooter in the 2022 NBA Draft

One prospect that the Indiana Pacers can zero in at maybe their 60th pick, the last in the 2022 NBA Draft, is Purdue alum Sasha Stefanovic. The Serbian-American sharpshooter has been missing from most mocks and big boards after exhausting all his college playing years, but his skill set should make him a viable option for most teams in the second-round or even in the undrafted pool.

The 23-year-old is among the best pure shooters among his peers, knocking down 38.8 percent of three-point shots in four college seasons on good volume. Despite playing more as an off-guard, Stefanovic is a nifty playmaker who understands angles and doesn’t take too many risks as a passer. In a way, he is very thrifty, yet efficient in his approach.

On the down side, Stefanovic is not the best shot creator, as the majority os his shots are wide-open or assisted tries. He also doesn’t take the ball to the rack much, and often gives off passiveness on the offensive end, though his great court awareness and secondary playmaking could prompt teams to give him the benefit of doubt. Defensively, he usually struggles defending more agile players, which is probably a collateral of his not-so-good athleticism.

Still, if the Indiana Pacers want to double down on their shooting, taking a flier on Sasha Stefanovic could be a viable route to take. It must also be noted that he has already worked out with the team in the pre-draft process.

Ultimately, the team’s three-point shooting, which already lags behind the competition, could take an even bigger hit if the front office trades Malcolm Brogdon or Buddy Hield, two of the most prolific gunners on the roster.