With the 38th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers (via the San Antonio Spurs) selected guard Kam Jones out of Marquette. Following the devastating Achilles injury to Tyrese Haliburton, which will likely sideline him for the entirety of next season, the Pacers were in serious need of point guard depth, and they got it with Jones.
Jones is highly unlikely to fill Haliburton's role next season, but he provides depth and could get a relatively big opportunity given Indiana's situation. As it stands, it seems that the most probable option for the Pacers is to slide Andrew Nembhard to point guard full-time and continue relying on T.J. McConnell as the backup. Still, there is a lot to like about the Maruqtte product, and he will be a name Pacers fans should keep an eye on throughout the season.
Kam Jones can carve out a role with the Pacers
Last season, Jones averaged 19.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. At 6'4", Jones has the ability to play both guard positions, and that versatility only bodes well for his time with the Pacers. The Tennessee native provides value on both sides of the ball, especially on the offensive side. He is a solid playmaker and a versatile scorer.
Jones is great at attacking the rim, mostly due to his craftiness, and he was a good shot creator at Marquette. His three-point shooting is a bit inconsistent, however, as he shot 40.6% and 31.1% from beyond the arc in each of his last two collegiate seasons, respectively. On the flip side, Jones does not possess great athleticism, which will likely be a huge problem in the NBA, especially if his jumpshot does not translate.
Different outlets have compared Jones to players like Shake Milton and Damion Lee, all the way to Donte DiVincenzo. At 23 years old, Jones does not have as much upside to grow as many of the other draft prospects, which certainly played a role in his draft stock. Regardless, for a team like the Pacers that is looking to remain in the title picture for the foreseeable future, getting a player who could contribute right away is key, even if it is not in a big role.
As the Pacers aim to navigate through the rest of the offseason, they will have plenty of decisions to make and questions to answer. Even though they drafted Jones, they may still remain in the market for a point guard. However, if not, there is a lot to like about Jones' fit in Indiana, especially given that he may have an opportunity to make an impact when the team needs it the most.
The Pacers have had a good track record of finding diamonds in the rough, including just three years ago when they drafted Nembhard in the second round. Only time will tell whether Jones is going to be next on that list, but as it stands, the Pacers have given fans reason to believe they may have done it once again.