Ranking 4 Best prospects for Pacers to finally turn things around at 2023 NBA Draft
By Tyler Watts
3. Amen Thompson
Amen is still the favorite to go fourth overall as he is a 6’6 playmaker that can run an offense. He has a seven-foot wingspan and unlimited defensive potential. Thompson is an elite athlete that is going to get his team playing faster and pushing in transition.
Tyrese Haliburton is a budding superstar that can play with anyone. It would be interesting to see how the Pacers fit these two players together. It feels like Thompson would handle the ball a bit more, and Haliburton would be used more as a scorer and floor spacer. The Pacers do not want to take the ball out of his hands, which makes drafting Amen Thompson problematic.
There are questions about Amen’s jumper, including a recent video of his form that The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor posted. Will the Pacers draft a shaky shooter at seventh overall? The only elite shooter in this range is Gradey Dick, and the other questions about his game should keep him off the board for Indiana.
The Indiana Pacers need wing and forward depth, but they should look elsewhere if either of the Thompson twins falls to seven. They need a better shooter right now to help turn things around. The Pacers want to be in the playoffs, and they need the right pieces around Haliburton to make that a reality.