The Indiana Pacers traded this year's first-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the Ivica Zubac trade, but there is a chance it stays with them anyway.
Indiana traded the pick, but it is heavily protected. If it falls between the 5-9 spots, it goes to Los Angeles. If it falls anywhere else in the draft, it will stay with the Pacers.
Because of this, they may have a bit of a decision to make. Either prioritize the tank and bank on landing a top-four pick in the draft (which would be ideal because of how great the top of the class looks), or try to win their way to the 10-30 range and ensure it stays with them.
ESPN's Tim Bontemps suggested that the Pacers may want to choose the latter option, but Brian Windhorst quickly dismissed and laughed at the idea, and made it clear that they are looking to secure a top pick regardless.
"I did ask the Pacers about that concept (winning now to fall in the 10-30 pick range). They said, 'Hell no. We're trying to get to the top four," Windhorst said on the "Hoop Collective" podcast, laughing.
Just before the All-Star break, the Pacers are 13-40. They own the second-worst record in the league and are just three games behind the Utah Jazz, who own the sixth-worst record in the league. According to Tankathon.com, they currently have a 52.1% chance of securing a top-four pick in the draft. The Jazz, meanwhile, have a 37.2% chance.
Indiana has a decision to make, but as it stands, the right one is probably just letting the tank happen and banking on its chances of landing the top pick.
The Pacers should aim for a high lottery pick this year
This draft class is expected to be a stacked one, and it's largely because of the top four prospects. It remains to be seen exactly how the order will go, but Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, and Caleb Wilson are all potential franchise players who are all legitimate options to get selected first overall.
If the Pacers can land any of them, it would put them in a great position to bolster their roster now and extend their championship window. The same can't be said if they have to draft 10th or worse, and their decision should be pretty obvious. And if what Windhorst is saying is true, it seems like they're making the right call anyway.