Given that the Pacers are not having a phenomenal season so far, this leaves fans with an eye towards the future. Which in this case is the NBA draft.
As we outlined before, the Pacers have a lot of draft capital in the upcoming draft. This includes multiple first round picks and multiple second round picks.
Now of course, the Pacers may decide to move some of these picks or combine them to try and trade up, but our initial mock drafts will just assume that the Pacers are going to pick at the places in the draft they are currently slated to pick.
We will update these mock drafts in the coming days and months in order to keep an accurate update on where the Pacers will be picking and who is rising and falling in the projected order of the NBA draft.
For the 1.0, we will be looking at both the first and second rounds. We will assume that the protections on certain picks will land where they currently are (aka as if the season ended today).
The biggest needs for the team are at the forward position, both small and power, however they are especially pronounced at the power forward position.
The Indiana Pacers select Cam Whitmore, power forward from Villanova University
Cam Whitmore is having himself a season, playing for a storied program. Additionally he plays the biggest position of need for the Pacers: power forward. Here are his statistics for the current season:
12.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, .7 assists, .2 blocks, 1.5 steals, 47% FG, 35% FG3
Whitmore is a scorer at heart, who also projects to play good defense at the NBA level. He has good shooting numbers for a player of his size (6’7, 225). Additionally, he was part of a gold medal winning U18 team and had a great showing there.
Cam could likely fit right into the Pacers rotation and a player of his size and playstyle would likely be exactly what the Pacers need in their starting rotation eventually. The Pacers should take a chance on a player of this type and be eyeing more power forwards with future draft picks in this draft as well.
However, the Pacers have two additional first round picks they need to make as well. Who else might the Pacers take with their draft capital?
The Indiana Pacers select Noah Clowney, power forward from the University of Alabama
Continuing with the pattern in the first pick, the Pacers pick a player that has a wide variance in where they will go in the first round: Noah Clowney. Some mock drafts have him as high as 10 while others barely have him in the first round. However, we feel that 26 might be a realistic spot for him to go, which is where the Pacers are projecting to make their second pick.
Clowney is averaging the following this season for Alabama:
10 points, 8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.1 blocks, 0.5 steals, 49% FG, 27% FG3
The clear weakness to Clowney is whether he will truly be able to stretch the floor given that he has struggled this season from beyond the arc. He is a great defender and would be able to potentially grow to lock down some of the best forwards in the league. He also has size at 6’10 and 210 pounds.
Who might the Pacers pick with their third and final pick in the first round of the draft?
The Indiana Pacer select Jordan Hawkins, shooting guard from the University of Connecticut
Here, we get into the area where the Pacers should take best available rather than the best fit for their current roster. And that is how we end up with Jordan Hawkins from the University of Connecticut. While the Pacers certainly don’t need any more guards, Hawkins would likely fit the run-and-gun system and could be a replacement player for a Duarte or Hield if they should move on in free agency or in a future trade.
Hawkins is playing great basketball this season averaging:
16.4 points, 4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.7 blocks, 0.8 steals, on 42% FG and 41% FG3
He is able to shoot the deep ball and is a usable guard on the other end as well. While he may not immediately come in and be a useful piece, there is a chance he could develop into a strong rotational player in the long term.
There is a possibility that players such as Hield or Duarte will be moved in the coming offseason, so there may be an open spot at third-string SG to start the season behind Hield/Duarte and Mathurin.
With the 31st pick in the NBA draft, the Indiana Pacers select Leonard Miller, small forward for the G League Ignite
Leonard Miller is currently playing against professionals and that gives him a leg up against other small forwards at this point on the board. He is having a decent season, averaging:
15 points, 9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1 steal on 53% FG and 29% FG3
He wouldn’t immediately be a valuable asset but he has the raw talent to potentially take a flier on in the early second round.
With the 47th pick in the NBA draft, the Indiana Pacers select Arthur Kaluma, power forward from Creighton University
With their final pick, the Pacers select another power forward, trying to build out a full roation of players that naturally play the power forward position. Kaluma is currently averaging:
12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist on 42% FG and 32% FG3
This would be a flier for the Pacers and may not turn into a rotational player at all, getting early playing time in Fort Wayne. However, isn’t that what late second round picks are for?
Would you be happy with this draft? Let us know in the comments below.