Indiana Pacers Draft Pick Watch Thread

[ReasonablySober]

DX mock has:

14. Killian Hayes
15. Cole Anthony
16. Tyrese Maxey

Just nuts to me that they could drop so far, but they must have some sort of league intel. Makes me more optimistic we might really get an opportunity to move up 8-10 spots to land a pretty special guard.

I hate to be the downer again but nothing I've seen out of any of them screams special. I'd be looking to trade any pick I got in the lotto. Hayes being ranked as high as he's been is absolutely baffling to me. Maybe it's totally because of the strength of the class that he's mocked high, but I'd be bummed as hell if this was my rare chance at the top of the lotto and this was the class I'm picking from.

How is Hayes being ranked high baffling? He has very legit off-dribble scoring ability, plus vision as a passer (esp out of PnR), suffocating POA defense, and has simply demonstrated insane growth to his game over the last 18 months. He still has no right hand, which hurts, but I've watched nearly every minute of him with Ulm, and I have him confidently at #3 on my personal board. There are no superstars in this class, so "pretty special" means solid starter to core player.

Maxey will stick because he is a 3-level scorer, strong finisher and a bulldog on D. Cole admittedly has real issues, but for us specifically, he could be really effective working off Giannis.

You literally just explained why I'd hate to have a high pick in this class. If I'm drafting at the top of the lotto I want more than a solid starter. I want someone who can be a 1A for my franchise, and I don't see anyone close to that in this class. I like Hayes' vision and he's got an interesting step-back, but I don't know how you look at that guy and say, "He's a future star." To me my ideal trade if I'm the Wolves or Dubs and I get an unprotected pick in 2022.

[RiotPunch]

I hate to be the downer again but nothing I've seen out of any of them screams special. I'd be looking to trade any pick I got in the lotto. Hayes being ranked as high as he's been is absolutely baffling to me. Maybe it's totally because of the strength of the class that he's mocked high, but I'd be bummed as hell if this was my rare chance at the top of the lotto and this was the class I'm picking from.

How is Hayes being ranked high baffling? He has very legit off-dribble scoring ability, plus vision as a passer (esp out of PnR), suffocating POA defense, and has simply demonstrated insane growth to his game over the last 18 months. He still has no right hand, which hurts, but I've watched nearly every minute of him with Ulm, and I have him confidently at #3 on my personal board. There are no superstars in this class, so "pretty special" means solid starter to core player.

Maxey will stick because he is a 3-level scorer, strong finisher and a bulldog on D. Cole admittedly has real issues, but for us specifically, he could be really effective working off Giannis.

You literally just explained why I'd hate to have a high pick in this class. If I'm drafting at the top of the lotto I want more than a solid starter. I want someone who can be a 1A for my franchise, and I don't see anyone close to that in this class. I like Hayes' vision and he's got an interesting step-back, but I don't know how you look at that guy and say, "He's a future star." To me my ideal trade if I'm the Wolves or Dubs and I get an unprotected pick in 2022.

So you just misunderstood what I meant by pretty special, basically. Never called anyone a future star.

[ReasonablySober]

How is Hayes being ranked high baffling? He has very legit off-dribble scoring ability, plus vision as a passer (esp out of PnR), suffocating POA defense, and has simply demonstrated insane growth to his game over the last 18 months. He still has no right hand, which hurts, but I've watched nearly every minute of him with Ulm, and I have him confidently at #3 on my personal board. There are no superstars in this class, so "pretty special" means solid starter to core player.

Maxey will stick because he is a 3-level scorer, strong finisher and a bulldog on D. Cole admittedly has real issues, but for us specifically, he could be really effective working off Giannis.

You literally just explained why I'd hate to have a high pick in this class. If I'm drafting at the top of the lotto I want more than a solid starter. I want someone who can be a 1A for my franchise, and I don't see anyone close to that in this class. I like Hayes' vision and he's got an interesting step-back, but I don't know how you look at that guy and say, "He's a future star." To me my ideal trade if I'm the Wolves or Dubs and I get an unprotected pick in 2022.

So you just misunderstood what I meant by pretty special, basically. Never called anyone a future star.

No, I'm taking what you said at face value. That you mean Hayes is pretty special, when I struggle to see him being special at all.

[RiotPunch]

You literally just explained why I'd hate to have a high pick in this class. If I'm drafting at the top of the lotto I want more than a solid starter. I want someone who can be a 1A for my franchise, and I don't see anyone close to that in this class. I like Hayes' vision and he's got an interesting step-back, but I don't know how you look at that guy and say, "He's a future star." To me my ideal trade if I'm the Wolves or Dubs and I get an unprotected pick in 2022.

So you just misunderstood what I meant by pretty special, basically. Never called anyone a future star.

No, I'm taking what you said at face value. That you mean Hayes is pretty special, when I struggle to see him being special at all.

Pretty special in relation to the class. Potentially a starting caliber or even core piece in the right situation, which I clarified. Feel like we just disagree on Killian, which is cool.

[skones]

Put me down as hoping Kira Lewis makes it to us at this point.

[RiotPunch]

Yeah, I like Kira a lot too. Bigger Ish Smith-ish tempo pusher.

[machu46]

Put me down as hoping Kira Lewis makes it to us at this point.

We could certainly use some speed on this team and he definitely has that. Right now, this is where my heads at:

Guys I would be happy with:
Kira Lewis
Leandro Bolmaro
Cassius Winston
Robert Woodard

Guys I think the Bucks would be happy with:
Leandro Bolmaro
Robert Woodard
Jalen Smith
Isaiah Stewart
Josh Green
Maybe Bane/Joe if they decide to prioritize shooting this year

[Ron Swanson]

Absolutely do not want list:

Mannion
Bolmaro
Maledon
Tyler Bey

If neither of Terry, Cole Anthony, or Kira Lewis fall to us at #24, then just give me Robert Woodard, Desmond Bane, Cassius Stanley, or any athletic, tools-y wing that Bud can mold in his system.

Edit: I've also been stanning for Jalen Smith for more than a year now, so I'd be happy with him.

[machu46]

Absolutely do not want list:

Mannion
Bolmaro
Maledon
Tyler Bey

If neither of Terry, Cole Anthony, or Kira Lewis fall to us at #24, then just give me Robert Woodard, Desmond Bane, Cassius Stanley, or any athletic, tools-y wing that Bud can mold in his system.

Edit: I've also been stanning for Jalen Smith for more than a year now, so I'd be happy with him.

I've been watching a bit of him this morning...seems like he'd fit into the Brook Lopez role for us pretty seamlessly. Probably exposed if he gets switched onto guards, but pretty good shot blocker, good shooter, seems to have an adequate post game though my gut feeling is he'd struggle a bit against longer guys, and does a really nice job setting screens and knowing when to pop or roll. I feel like he'll eventually rise up out of our draft range.

[Matches Malone]

Maybe it's just me, but it feels like the Wolves/Cavs have the topic pick every other year lol.

[machu46]

Maybe it's just me, but it feels like the Wolves/Cavs have the topic pick every other year lol.

This is the Wolves' 3rd time in 6 or 7 years (if you include them getting Wiggins after the draft).

[Matches Malone]

Maybe it's just me, but it feels like the Wolves/Cavs have the topic pick every other year lol.

This is the Wolves' 3rd time in 6 or 7 years (if you include them getting Wiggins after the draft).

It's too bad they can't capitalize on one of these top picks. I remember when Lebron left CLE and it felt like the league was sorry for them and kept feeding them #1 picks haha.

Edit: I guess the wolves did get Towns out of it, but even he's been a bit of a let down in terms of overall impact to winning.

[Ron Swanson]

Part of me thinks that Cassius Winston could be the next Kyle Lowry, but the other, more sensible part of me thinks he's just a more steady version of Isaiah Canaan.

[emunney]

Definitely a bad year to have a top pick relative to other years, but also, it's always good to have a top pick. You can also have the #2 pick in the perfect year and **** it up (what up Vlade).

[emunney]

Part of me thinks that Cassius Winston could be the next Kyle Lowry, but the other, more sensible part of me thinks he's just a more steady version of Isaiah Canaan.

Whoa, I don't think he's within shouting distance of Lowry as an athlete. But not Canaan either, who is not really even a point guard. Maybe like Ridnour if he's lucky. Small and not fast is a rough combo, despite his skill and smarts.

[emunney]

Who's going to take Pokusevski? I hope we would if he's there. Really a stand-out talent wise. You get to like #8 and it already looks like a very worthy risk to me.

[machu46]

Part of me thinks that Cassius Winston could be the next Kyle Lowry, but the other, more sensible part of me thinks he's just a more steady version of Isaiah Canaan.

Whoa, I don't think he's within shouting distance of Lowry as an athlete. But not Canaan either, who is not really even a point guard. Maybe like Ridnour if he's lucky. Small and not fast is a rough combo, despite his skill and smarts.

He's probably not as quick as Lowry was, but I still personally like him a lot and think he's being severely undervalued. It didn't really slow him down at all in college even when he faced strong competition. I think he has enough savvy and skills to potentially be a starting PG in the league.

[Ron Swanson]

Lowry has always been a functionally strong dude, but no one was ever mistaking him for some freak athlete, and he went 24th in a pretty weak draft. I'm looking more at what someone like Winston could bring to the table impact-wise and not really putting too much emphasis on physical comparisons. I see a lot of current/older Lowry in his game. He's grown on me the more I watch of him, and I'm starting to wonder what makes a guy like Tyrell Terry a better prospect other than the age factor.

[jakecronus8]

I’d like to focus more on who we can get for the expirings of Ersan, DJ, and that pick rather than who we might draft.

[Willie Colon]

I'm all in on Leandro Bolmaro. We need a Carlos Delfino successor.