As owners of the sixth overall selection in the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers have a slew of prospects from the rookie pool that they could pick to accelerate a rare rebuilding phase for the franchise. Right off the bat, fans can probably list down more than five players who should be available at that juncture and be able to fit well with the team.
However, recent reports point to teams on the higher end of the draft spectrum to be more cautious amidst a long list of options available to them. In fact, one particular draft prospect has pundits tabbing him as an early candidate to fall from his projected spot, and the Pacers should be similarly wary with him.
NBA Draft forecasters have this young prospect’s stock on a decline, and the Indiana Pacers could be better off seeking other options
Shaedon Sharpe, a 6″5 shooting guard from Kentucky, is wildly believed to be in the tier below the consensus top three. This is despite him not suiting up for the Wildcats in any contest. In addition, his camp elected not to participate in the NBA Draft Combine, adding to the mystery that surrounds the 19-year-old.
With valid concerns about his current condition, Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer pointed to Sharpe as an early candidate to fall in the lottery, to which he said:
"One early candidate to fall in the lottery: Shaedon Sharpe. After not playing at Kentucky, Sharpe has been said to underwhelm multiple teams in pre-draft workouts. His range may begin with the New Orleans Pelicans at No. 8, but Sharpe could also feasibly be the target for any team that trades with Portland for the No. 7 pick."
Based from the aforesaid, zeroing in on Sharpe with the sixth pick could easily be a reach on the Indiana Pacers’ part. Fortunately for them, other prospects with more certainty around them are pretty much available at that spot, meaning that unless they are really intrigued by Sharpe’s potential, the likes of which made him the best high school player in the country at one point, they would be better off staying away from taking a risky gamble on him.
Nonetheless, the Indiana Pacers remain in great position to pick their best prospect yet in years. However, this does not mean that they should go all-in and gamble their way to uncertainty, unless the potential is too good to forego.
He got to suit up first, though.