The Indiana Pacers will enter the NBA Draft with an opportunity to improve an already elite rotation. Considering they already have eight players averaging at least 8.6 points per game during the 2025 postseason, that's a terrifying thought for the rest of the Association.
A recent mock draft revealed just how significant the annual selection process could be to not only helping Indiana create depth at its thinnest position, but take another step toward dominance.
Indiana will have the No. 23 overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. Though late in the first round, it will provide the Pacers with an opportunity to land a potentially undervalued pick whose upside is still commendable and whose immediate value may be noteworthy.
In a mock draft published by Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports, the Pacers selected that exact type of player: Sharpshooting big man Maxime Raynaud of the Stanford Cardinal.
"With Myles Turner entering free agent this offseason, the Pacers could be in need of a center. Even if he does return, Raynaud could serve as a backup center or give Indiana a versatile option for a two-big look."
Raynaud has intriguing potential, with O'Connor going as far as to compare his upside to two All-Star big men: Brook Lopez and Rasheed Wallace.
Kevin O'Connor has Pacers picking Maxime Raynaud, compares upside to Brook Lopez, Rasheed Wallace
It's important to note that an upside comparison is meant to pinpoint the highest tier of a player's potential. The likelihood of a prospect reaching those heights is admittedly slim, but in the event that they max out their abilities, that's whom the writer believes they can be.
The fact that Raynaud can even be ambitiously compared to Lopez and Wallace, however, is nothing short of captivating.
Raynaud stands at 7'0.25" without shoes and 237 pounds with a 7'1.25" wingspan and a 9'2" standing reach. He's utilized those attributes to emerge as one of the best rebounders in his class, which only scratches the surface of his appeal.
In 2024-25, Raynaud averaged 20.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.7 offensive boards, 1.7 assists, 1.4 blocks, 0.9 steals, and 1.9 three-point field goals made on .467/.347/.770 shooting.
Those numbers epitomize his appeal as a player. Raynaud is capable of dominating the glass and thriving in multiple areas defensively, which is an instantly appealing balance. What rounds the Lopez and Wallace upside comparisons into form is the fact that he's also a floor-spacer.
Having buried 89 three-point field goals on 35.0 percent shooting over the past two seasons, Raynaud is seemingly tailor made for a system that has helped Myles Turner excel as a 3-and-D big.
Beyond his shooting, Raynaud is surprisingly agile for his size, making swift cuts and playing comfortably above the rim. He's also a crafty finisher who can attack closeouts, face up and drive, and does an excellent job of using his body to create space.
Perhaps Lopez and Wallace are too ambitious to be realistic comparisons, but the bottom line is that Raynaud is a true seven-footer with a modern skill set. Indiana would be wise to have him on its radar.