Pacers Draft Board: #22

[Scoot McGroot]

Pacers Draft Board:

1. Derrick Rose
2. Michael Beasley
3. O.J. Mayo
4. Jerryd Bayless
5. Brook Lopez
6. Eric Gordon
7. Anthony Randolph
8. Russell Westbrook
9. Kevin Love
10. D.J. Augustin
11. DeAndre Jordan
12. Danilo Gallinari
13. Marreese Speights
14. JaVale McGee
15. Kosta Koufos
16. Darrell Arthur
17. Joe Alexander
18. Chris Douglas-Roberts
19. Donte Green
20. Ty Lawson
21. Brandon Rush


You're always free to write in a candidate at any time.

[Grang33r]

Nicolas Batum

As Bird/Morway said in Chad's podcast, talent over need always wins out unless it's close. With the guys he's in here, talent totally wins out. He could be a top 5 defender in the NBA and a 17-22ppg scorer. He's played at a high level already and played well. I think he's way too low for 22. Batum is gonna be a star.

[mizzoupacers]

Batum is too much of an unknown and sounds too much like a small forward for me to pick him, although if the Pacers' scouts like him, that would be good enough for me.

I'm voting for Hibbert here though. I'd rather have a backup center out of this draft than another backup pg (which is most likely what Chalmers will turn out to be). The Pacers have no problem finding backup pgs, it's finding a starting pg who sees more action in games than in nightclubs that seems to be the problem.

[Bucky O'Hare]

Hickson

6'9', 240, great strength, good athleticism, great skill-level, very young. He had a very impressive freshman season.

[cdash]

I think Walker has the most talent...but I am at something of a crossroads here with this pick.

[massey1992]

Walker. He would do everything the Pacers need him to do. He can shoot, dribble, pass, and rebound. He is the complete package and Indiana would want him.

[PR07]

I'm going with Walker. Excellent athleticism, talented scorer, has Artest/Pierce toughness and strength on the perimeter.

[ahartleyvu]

lol Walker?????? Chalmbers???

I went with the only guy who has a chance of becoming something above average, Chase Budinger.

[Orlock78]

I voted for Batum, but would like to change my vote to Walker. For whoever is counting.

[Miller4ever]

I actually really like Robin Lopez. I know he played for Stanford, and he didn't post gargantuan stats and really show flash, but he'd squeeze the most production out of minutes.

[ahartleyvu]

C'mon guys, Bill Walker is probably a 2nd Round pick.

[cdash]

Why is Walker a second round pick? The guy has all kinds of talent, and before his knee injury two years ago he was talked about as a top 5 pick.

[PR07]

Look at Chad Ford's latest mock draft, he's at #29 to the Pistons. Considering our needs, I don't think he's that big of a reach when you look at what he brings to the table. Was a Top 10 pick before his knee injury, and he's starting to regain all of the explosiveness again.

When you look at Kansas State, Michael Beasley was great, but Bill Walker got incredibly overlooked and was almost as pivotal to their success.

[ahartleyvu]

I do know that he has never played without a superstar player dating back to his middle school He's also had some major knee surgery.

Batum, Budinger are more of a sure thing.

[cdash]

I dont think they are more of a sure thing. Budinger was inconsistent and really didnt do anything worthy of a lottery pick at Arizona. I throw him and Joe Alexander together. Super athletic guys with good size and good shooting. Batum had a good Hoop Summit or whatever last year, but he plays in France (not a very strong league) and seemed to digress this past year. Walker will likely play with stars in the NBA, so its good to know his ego can handle it. I see that as a plus.

[Grang33r]

Why is Walker a second round pick? The guy has all kinds of talent, and before his knee injury two years ago he was talked about as a top 5 pick.

Walker does have good tools but to be chosen ahead of Batum or Super Mario? Come on you can't be serious. Batum is a 100% Larry Bird type player too, alot of experts compare him to Rudy Gay. The guy can score 20ppg and be a top 5-7 defender in the NBA. He can be a difference maker and he's played against high US teams and held his own.

Mario is quick, great 3-point range and clutch.... he proved it in the NCAA Final.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

I'm shocked Batum hasn't gone yet.

[ahartleyvu]

I'm not. Batum's a huge project, have you read up on him at draftexpress

As the game went on and things got slower and more congested in the half-court, though, Batum

[ahartleyvu]

Batum, Budinger are more of a sure thing.

I really don't see how you can say Batum is more of a sure thing. See Above post. Batum is as far as a project as you may find in this draft. Walker is much more polished and has been playing against better competition.

As for Budinger, he hasn't exactly carried a team himself either. In fact, Arizona was one of the bigger disappointments of the NCAA and didn't make any noise in the NBA tourney. I guess it depends on what you want. Budinger will give you an athletic shooter without much defense, while Walker is a better defender and probably scores a higher percentage of his points in the paint but with less shooting ability.

From what we were told, Walker has been shooting the ball a lot better in most of his workouts, which is the reason he

[ahartleyvu]

Walker may be closer to being NBA ready, but he has more of a bust factor IMO.

I think you guys just have a tendency to fall in love with "under dogs" or "dark horse" picks. Looking for a diamond in the rough is one thing, but to be reaching on every single pick is just a recipe for a disaster.

Chase, Batum are held with more regard league wide. I think it's just smarter to go after guys like this, then stabbing in the dark with average college players.