Indiana Pacers: What if top draft targets don’t fall to No. 6?

As the NBA draft nears closer, the Indiana Pacers and their fans have a few top targets in mind. The Front Office has expressed their aggressive mentality to get their guy, whoever that may be.

In my opinion, there are two top prospects that the Pacers could land with the No. 6 pick in this draft. The ideal two are, of course, Jaden Ivey and Ben Mathurin.

What if the Indiana Pacers’ turn comes and both of those names are off the board, assuming they don’t make a trade?

It all depends on how teams draft of course and how they view individual prospects to fit with their team needs. Jaden Ivey is a top-four pick in this NBA draft, and Ben Mathurin is climbing up draft boards ahead of the event on June 23rd.

Recently I have seen his name tied in with the Detroit Pistons at No. 5 in recent NBA Mocks. So what would that leave fans hoping for? A trade to move up/down or pick the best available player on their board at the time of the draft.

A trade to move up could mean trying a second trade this year with the Sacramento Kings that could potentially involve Malcolm Brogdon and No. 6 in return for the 4th overall pick in this year’s draft. I am sure the Front Office will explore many options if this is the route that they are trying to go and they do have assets that appeal.

I don’t see the Pacers getting into the top three with what they can offer, and then moving up to pick No. 5 would mean trading with a division rive in the Detroit Pistons. If Jaden Ivey is off the board at four and Mathurin is the name among the rooms in Detroit, I see the Pacers trying to make an offer at it if Mathurin would be their guy in that situation.

It is hard to predict everything pre-draft, but this tier of players might be one that the Pacers are willing to be aggressive for.

Picking the best player available

This is a route I see to be less likely the more you listen to Kevin Pritchard’s post lottery interview. They know who they want and they know they want to get that guy. Whatever they have to do it seems they will try.

So who would be the best player available? The first place my mind goes is AJ Griffin from Duke. He can shoot the ball a an extremely high level, which is music to Rick Carlisle’s ears.

Griffin is a guy that I don’t think is top-five tier but also is more of a proven player than Shaedon Sharpe who may have great potential but is lacking the tape that the Pacers (hopefully) don’t want to bet on.

AJ Griffin is 6’6” and shot the three-ball at 44% in his rookie season at Duke. He can good size and I think he can become a good defender. Positionally I don’t know how he fits with Chris Duarte on the roster, but his fit with assist machine Tyrese Haliburton is certainly exciting.

His 44% shooting from deep would be among the leagues best if it were to directly translate, joining Desmond Bane and Luke Kennard who shoot around 44% from deep.

Keegan Murray is another name to watch at six if the Pacers stay put and Mathurin and Ivey are both gone. He is a talented prospect that can fit the four spot the Indiana Pacers desperately need to fill. He has room to grow but I think he is of great value with the sixth pick.

I think Pacers fans need to keep an open mind about what the sixth pick might turn out to be and if the Indiana Pacers do keep the pick. It is possible that both top targets fans would want are both off the board at pick No. 6.