Considering how the lottery unfolded for the Indiana Pacers, drafting highly-touted backcourt prospect Jaden Ivey seemed like a pipe dream. After all, he is widely considered to be the best guard available for taking in the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft.
However, the latest NBA Draft intel suggests that the Pacers drafting Ivey at No. 6 is not that much of a reach, with reports popping up that some teams ahead of them in the order of selection are also strongly considering other players to pick from the rookie pool.
The Indiana Pacers could be closer to drafting Jaden Ivey in the 2022 NBA Draft than believed
Currently holding the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings have the first crack at drafting Jaden Ivey, assuming that the consensus top three are all off the board at that juncture. However, their interest on forward Keegan Murray seems stronger than anticipated.
In fact, the Kings brass, which now includes newly-hired coach Mike Brown, seems to have a particular liking for the Iowa product. Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes even reported that the young forward met with Sacramento’s front office just recently, with him even having a dinner with franchise cornerstones Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox.
Meanwhile, the team directly picking above the Indiana Pacers, the Detroit Pistons, have not been as loose as the Kings on the rumor department. That being said, they are reported to be interested in Shaedon Sharpe, who is easily the biggest swing pick in the draft.
Sharpe, who is a big mystery following his college sabbatical with Kentucky, profiles as a very good fit next to Pistons centerpiece and last year’s first overall pick Cade Cunningham. That being said, Jaden Ivey is just as good, if not clearly better, than the Canadian stalwart if the draft forecasts hold true, while being a much safer pick in concurrence.
Nevertheless, if the latest intel holds up, the Indiana Pacers could be looking at a 50-50 chance to nab Jaden Ivey, who should be a tremendous running mate to Tyrese Haliburton. Ivey fans can only hope that the two teams above them look elsewhere, or that the front office finds a way to move up in the 2022 NBA Draft.