Indiana Pacers: Jaden Ivey has high praise for the franchise

The Indiana Pacers have the sixth pick in this upcoming NBA draft. While they will have good options available, it seems to be less likely that Jaden Ivey will be available for them at the pick they currently have.

Jaden Ivey gave high praise for the Indiana Pacers in a recent interview. Would the Pacers be willing to trade up for him?

Ivey sat down with a reporter from Sports Illustrated’s “The Spun” on June 14th. He was asked what teams he thought would be a good fit for him in this draft and his answer should excite Pacers fans.

"“I would love to go anywhere, but Detroit, my mom [Notre Dame head women’s basketball coach Niele Ivey] played for the Detroit Shock in the WNBA. I’ve lived in the area and I know what it’s like. Detroit [which picks fifth overall] could be an option.The Pacers [who pick sixth], my mom played with the Indiana Fever. I’m kind of familiar with that organization. If they pick me on draft night it would be an honor. Just being from Indiana and living there my whole life, that would be amazing”."

Now, just because Ivey has such praise for this organization doesn’t mean he is a lock to come to the Pacers. In fact, I think he is a lock to be picked a few spots ahead of where the Pacers are drafting this year. The only scenario I see Indiana being able to slot the Purdue star is by trading some assets for a higher pick.

Fans should expect that this front office will do anything to get the guy that they see fits this roster the best. It is the most important draft to date for this organization.

Indiana has the No. 31 pick, plus the Cavaliers’ 2023 first-round pick that was awarded to them via the Caris LeVert trade earlier this year. This plus veteran players and their own sixth pick in the draft is certainly ammunition to move around for a guy of Ivey’s caliber, but other teams will have to want what Indiana is selling for that to happen.

Ivey averaged 17.3 points a game along with 4.9 rebounds while standing at 6’4”. Shooting the ball at 35.8% from behind the arc has me excited for a potential fit with a Tyrese Haliburton who shoots over 40% from the spot. He is an explosive player that would make a great addition to this Indiana backcourt for seasons to come.