Pacers might get a top 3 pick in possibly the best draft since 03 - what’s the plan

[PistolPeteJR]

100% keep. Having a young stud loaded with potential in a small-market with a coach like Carlisle under team control cheap is something you don't pass up on unless Jokic, Luka or Shai are available. Perhaps Ant as well. But that's it. I wouldn't even do it for Giannis at this point. He just turned 30 (Jokic too, but Jokic > Giannis) and I don't want a 30-yo as my return, generally speaking.

[Blame Rasho]

Don't be the Detroit Pistons.

Oh those Darko jerk off quotes by that jack off Chad Ford.

[jowglenn]

The Pacers are just going to stay the course and let it lead them wherever it goes. They aren't going to make any big series of blow up trades of Siakam, McConnell, Toppin, etc, to bottom out and tank.

Now they might trade Benny Math; once he's back from injury, if he keeps up his pace he WILL get a huge offer in RFA and the Pacers might not want to match, especially if we still envision Hali/Nembhard as the starting backcourt. So look around at the trade deadline for something where we can trade him for something that better fits our needs? A center, perhaps? Maybe a pick?

Definitely could see another marginal trade, like Toppin. But I'd wager money that on opening night 2026, Siakam, Nembhard, and Nesmith are all starting players for the Indiana Pacers.

[Black Jack]

Sounds like the 2020 Warriors.

If the Warriors had picked say Sengun or Wagner, which they could have if there was a good scout in the FO post Jerry West, things would look very different.

If Pacers can get one of the future all stars in the draft I say keep him.

That was the 2021 draft. I'm talking about the 2020 draft when they had the #2 pick.

The one where they had Halliburton available and worked him out then drafted an injured big?

Yeah, Jerry West or Don Nelson would have nailed that draft. Imagine the Warriors with Halliburton and Curry in the backcourt

[JujitsuFlip]

If the Warriors had picked say Sengun or Wagner, which they could have if there was a good scout in the FO post Jerry West, things would look very different.

If Pacers can get one of the future all stars in the draft I say keep him.

That was the 2021 draft. I'm talking about the 2020 draft when they had the #2 pick.

The one where they had Halliburton available and worked him out then drafted an injured big?

Yeah, Jerry West or Don Nelson would have nailed that draft. Imagine the Warriors with Halliburton and Curry in the backcourt

I liked Wiseman as a prospect but yes it was very reminiscent of the Pistons drafting Darko.

[jowglenn]

That was the 2021 draft. I'm talking about the 2020 draft when they had the #2 pick.

The one where they had Halliburton available and worked him out then drafted an injured big?

Yeah, Jerry West or Don Nelson would have nailed that draft. Imagine the Warriors with Halliburton and Curry in the backcourt

I liked Wiseman as a prospect but yes it was very reminiscent of the Pistons drafting Darko.

Yes in retrospect a terrible pick; but 10 other teams also skipped Haliburton. LaMelo Ball was the one they should have drafted, but there were definitely question marks about him and the whole Ball family situation and those headaches.

If you look back at the draft, Patrick Williams, Isaac Okoro, and Killian Hayes all were drafted in the next 5 picks after Wiseman... so it's not like they passed up on a clear string of winners like in the Darko draft (passing up on Melo, Bosh, Wade, the next 3 picks)

[ShootersShoot]

If that was my team, as a fan I would want to tank. The ceiling without hali and turner this season would be low anyways, and that pick will go a long way to help to replace turners impact once hali returns.

The question is, what are the chances this team goes on a run if they can get healthy this season (sans hali)?

[Daddy 801]

I don’t think a single pick, even in a loaded draft gets Giannis. Giannis is going to get five picks. And most of those are going to be good picks. Probably all unprotected.

So Indiana has those assets they can be contenders in a Giannis sweepstakes. But the Spurs, OKC, Rockets all have a ton of picks and youth to trade.

So on top of being an in conference rival I just don’t see Indy getting a player like Giannis.

I also don’t think Indy is going to stay this bad all season. They will probably end up like the 9th-13th worst team by seasons end. For example the Jazz got lucky and won a few out the gate but the just lost Kessler who was 1 of 3 good players they have. They are going to lose a ton more games going forward. Brooklyn sucks, Washington sucks, etc. A lot of bad teams and Indy isn’t one of them once they get rolling.

Indy is just too good even with Hali out and you don’t ask a team who was just in the championships to pack their bags for a draft pick. Those veterans don’t care and Carlisle is too good of a coach. So if Indy was smart they might consider trading the pick now for a mid level good player. As a Jazz fan I would say a guy like Lauri is a good example of someone to go after, not suggesting he is the guy. But someone like that. A good player on a team willing to gamble and needing more good young players. I’m sure there are a half dozen or so guys in a situation like Lauri that would be a good fit for Indy.

That or just keep the pick and get a young player for depth. Nothing wrong with that approach. But if Indy does get a good player to add to their team next year they have a real shot of being right back in the championships. I honestly thought they were going to win it before Hali went down. Would have been one of the coolest championship runs of all time. They have right kind of combination of players to give any team a run. So best of luck to Indy next year when everyone is back healthy.

[JujitsuFlip]

The one where they had Halliburton available and worked him out then drafted an injured big?

Yeah, Jerry West or Don Nelson would have nailed that draft. Imagine the Warriors with Halliburton and Curry in the backcourt

I liked Wiseman as a prospect but yes it was very reminiscent of the Pistons drafting Darko.

Yes in retrospect a terrible pick; but 10 other teams also skipped Haliburton. LaMelo Ball was the one they should have drafted, but there were definitely question marks about him and the whole Ball family situation and those headaches.

If you look back at the draft, Patrick Williams, Isaac Okoro, and Killian Hayes all were drafted in the next 5 picks after Wiseman... so it's not like they passed up on a clear string of winners like in the Darko draft (passing up on Melo, Bosh, Wade, the next 3 picks)

I just meant more so a competitive team selecting a big man at #2 overall and it not working out.

But agreed there's 0% chance the Warriors were going to draft Halliburton at #2, only hindsight allows us to even consider that an option.

[Exp0sed]

The Pacers are just going to stay the course and let it lead them wherever it goes. They aren't going to make any big series of blow up trades of Siakam, McConnell, Toppin, etc, to bottom out and tank.

Now they might trade Benny Math; once he's back from injury, if he keeps up his pace he WILL get a huge offer in RFA and the Pacers might not want to match, especially if we still envision Hali/Nembhard as the starting backcourt. So look around at the trade deadline for something where we can trade him for something that better fits our needs? A center, perhaps? Maybe a pick?

Definitely could see another marginal trade, like Toppin. But I'd wager money that on opening night 2026, Siakam, Nembhard, and Nesmith are all starting players for the Indiana Pacers.

Def a Center. it'd be hard to win a chip without an above average C, that fits.

[xBulletproof]

This might be one of the funniest charts I've ever seen.

Can we retroactively give Haliburton the MVP?

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