I hate to start this off on a somber note, but I'm going to anyway: the Indiana Pacers aren't going to have Pascal Siakam forever. He's a crucial part of their success, but he just turned 32 years old. Even if he's still in Indiana in, we'll say five years, he's probably not going to be the same player he is right now.
The Pacers will have to find a Siakam replacement eventually, especially if they want to be in the title picture for years to come. Fortunately for them, they may have their opportunity to find that in this year's draft in Duke forward Cameron Boozer.
If lottery luck goes their way next month and they get their pick back from the Los Angeles Clippers (it needs to fall in the 1-4 range for this to happen), the Pacers will be able to add a potential All-NBA guy to a roster that is already championship-caliber. And while there are multiple intriguing options in the draft, Boozer's fit as a long-term Siakam replacement could make him the most appealing.
Cameron Boozer can help the Pacers in the post-Pascal Siakam era
There is a loud group of people who believe Boozer is the best player in this year's draft class, which is absolutely saying something.
During his lone season at Duke, the Utah native averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds (which led the ACC), 4.1 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 55.6% from the field and 39.1% from beyond the arc in 38 games. He is an incredibly smart player who can score, playmake, rebound, and shoot at a high level, and he would be an incredible fit in Indiana, especially because of his ability to play both power forward and center.
What makes the idea of drafting Boozer even more appealing for the Pacers is that he would have a couple of years to learn behind Siakam and even Ivica Zubac. This would be a great learning experience for him, but it would also give him the opportunity to hone his craft and develop without having too much pressure to help a potential championship-contending team right away, as he would likely come off the bench right away.
There is a fair debate to be had about whether Boozer is the best player in this year's draft. Personally, my pick still goes to AJ Dybantsa because of his more well-rounded game, as well as his incredible athleticism. I just feel like he's the safest pick in this year's draft, but Boozer is also incredible, and any team that ends up with him should be happy.
And if it's the Pacers, that's especially true. It's going to be a while before anybody can replace Siakam in Indiana when the time comes, but if he turns into the player everybody thinks he can, Boozer might not be a bad option to take over a few years down the line.
Add us as a preferred source on Google