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Indiana Pacers: Infinite opportunities await this offseason

By Keaton Barnhill

Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 05: Jarace Walker #25 of the Houston Cougars looks on against the Temple Owls at the Liacouras Center on February 5, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 05: Jarace Walker #25 of the Houston Cougars looks on against the Temple Owls at the Liacouras Center on February 5, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

This is a rare opportunity for the Pacers

That’s the whole point and honestly, the Pacers have to enjoy the luxury of having a lottery pick because it doesn’t happen very often. We have made 12 selections in the lottery dating back to 1985. In comparison, the defending champion Warriors have selected 24 players in the lottery in the same period of time. Now choosing a player in the lottery does not guarantee they’ll be a star. In fact it really just puts pressure on the player to perform so that they can justify their draft selection and not be viewed as a bust.

I’m PRETTY SURE the Pacers will be picking at about slots 7-8 this year. Honestly, there are about 8 guys who I deem positive impact players that warrant a top 8 selection so as long as we don’t get a pick lower than that ill be fine. I refuse to even THINK about the chances we get a pick in the top 4 and that is why I will disregard Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson as potential Pacer players.  (but that would be really really cool) But so aside from those two here are the guys were potentially looking at in no order:

  • Brandon Miller
  • Jarace Walker
  • Cam Whitmore
  • Amen Thompson
  • Ausar Thompson
  • Taylor Hendricks

Any of these players could warrant a top 8 pick as they all show 2-way potential, self-creation, or both. Everyone knows the Pacers are lacking someone at the 4 who can play great defense and there are a couple of guys who can do that in this group.

This draft is important for us. The team is not quite yet ready to be a title contender but they are moving in that direction and getting a player that’s young and can develop with our other young guys is what we truly need to continue to build. This rebuild will not be one where we cut corners.

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