Indiana Pacers Draft Pick Watch Thread

[Ron Swanson]

Maybe I'm just stubbornly sticking to my pre-season projections, but still not all that convinced the Pacers are a good team. Looking at their wins:

Nets (2)
Cavs
Magic
Grizz
Pistons
Hornets
OKC (2)
Hawks (2)
Knicks
Wizards
Celtics
Bulls
Jazz

2-4 against teams over .500, and the fact that only 6 of their 27 games thus far have been against winning teams should give you an idea of how ridiculously easy their schedule has been.

They have the potential to be a better version of the team that whooped us last year and gave LeBron all he could handle in the playoffs. Their starters have the second best net rating in the league, they're deep, have tons of size and shooting. The weakest starter is Lamb, who is still quite good and will be moved to the bench once Oladipo gets back. A healthy Oladipo can get them to elite status.

I like Victor, but people act like he's the 2nd coming of Kobe sometimes. He's a very good player coming off a very serious injury.

This. Oladipo is/was a great player before the injury, but we're talking about a Top-25 guy, not a Top-10 guy. And even assuming he ever gets back to that level is tricky with an Achilles tear. I just don't see them ever being a team that can score enough to win you more than one 7-game series. I think they'll eventually settle back into that familiar ~48 win pace. I probably said the same thing last year, but they're the East version of the Jazz.

[BroncoBuck]

Dream scenario:

Bucks win the Finals
Bucks draft Vernon Carey Jr. with Indy’s pick

[Willie Colon]

They have the potential to be a better version of the team that whooped us last year and gave LeBron all he could handle in the playoffs. Their starters have the second best net rating in the league, they're deep, have tons of size and shooting. The weakest starter is Lamb, who is still quite good and will be moved to the bench once Oladipo gets back. A healthy Oladipo can get them to elite status.

I like Victor, but people act like he's the 2nd coming of Kobe sometimes. He's a very good player coming off a very serious injury.

This. Oladipo is/was a great player before the injury, but we're talking about a Top-25 guy, not a Top-10 guy. And even assuming he ever gets back to that level is tricky with an Achilles tear. I just don't see them ever being a team that can score enough to win you more than one 7-game series. I think they'll eventually settle back into that familiar ~48 win pace. I probably said the same thing last year, but they're the East version of the Jazz.

It's actually a ruptured quad tendon. It doesn't appear that anyone else in the league has ever had this injury so there's no telling what's to come.

[Ruzious]

Dream scenario:

Bucks win the Finals
Bucks draft Vernon Carey Jr. with Indy’s pick

Why is he going to be any better than Okafor?

[BroncoBuck]

Dream scenario:

Bucks win the Finals
Bucks draft Vernon Carey Jr. with Indy’s pick

Why is he going to be any better than Okafor?

I can’t tell if you’re being serious or not. Vernon Carey Jr. has a legitimate jumper that extends out, while Okafor is a post scorer. He doesn’t get to use it too many times in Duke’s system, but it’s there and he’s been knocking them down. I also think he’s a much more natural defender than Okafor. He knows how to use his length to alter shots. I’m not sure he is ready to bang down low with the big boys just yet, but the tools and natural frame (his dad was a friggin RT in the NFL) are there. Definitely a better fit for the modern league than Okafor.

[Prez]

Full strength Oladipo was much closer to top 10 than 25 imo. Even before he went down for the season he was dealing with stuff on and off that year, but when he was fully healthy the year before in 17-18, I think ranking everyone in the league I’d have him around 11th or 12th.

Sucks we probably won’t see that guy again bc of the injury. He’s a perfect fit for what they do and what they need right now. Think 2017-18 Oladipo makes them the most dangerous threat to the Bucks in the East

[tedbrogen]

Dream scenario:

Bucks win the Finals
Bucks draft Vernon Carey Jr. with Indy’s pick

Why is he going to be any better than Okafor?

Way better defensively than Okafor. Can switch in the PnR and not get embarrassed. His feet are way quicker laterally than most his size. More natural shot blocker. More willing to aggressively rebound. Already has range to the college three point line. Can get up and down the court faster than most his size. Not as refined a post game as Okafor, but much more willing to just use his size and go attacked the basket when he gets the ball. Smooth touch at all levels on offense. Slightly smaller Brolo with more switchability if he gets the right NBA coaching.

Only negatives I see are he will probably struggle with strength and length in the NBA his first couple years as he adjusts to facing guys stronger/longer than him for the first time ever. Will his range stretch out to NBA three point range? He has had some bad free throw games (in their lose he was awful from the line) but his free throw stroke usually looks good.

[Ruzious]

Dream scenario:

Bucks win the Finals
Bucks draft Vernon Carey Jr. with Indy’s pick

Why is he going to be any better than Okafor?

I can’t tell if you’re being serious or not. Vernon Carey Jr. has a legitimate jumper that extends out, while Okafor is a post scorer. He doesn’t get to use it too many times in Duke’s system, but it’s there and he’s been knocking them down. I also think he’s a much more natural defender than Okafor. He knows how to use his length to alter shots. I’m not sure he is ready to bang down low with the big boys just yet, but the tools and natural frame (his dad was a friggin RT in the NFL) are there. Definitely a better fit for the modern league than Okafor.

Then why do you think there's any chance in the world - even in a dream - that he falls to the Indiana pick.

[BroncoBuck]

Why is he going to be any better than Okafor?

I can’t tell if you’re being serious or not. Vernon Carey Jr. has a legitimate jumper that extends out, while Okafor is a post scorer. He doesn’t get to use it too many times in Duke’s system, but it’s there and he’s been knocking them down. I also think he’s a much more natural defender than Okafor. He knows how to use his length to alter shots. I’m not sure he is ready to bang down low with the big boys just yet, but the tools and natural frame (his dad was a friggin RT in the NFL) are there. Definitely a better fit for the modern league than Okafor.

Then why do you think there's any chance in the world - even in a dream - that he falls to the Indiana pick.

This draft is pretty deep. I could see him going anywhere from 10 to end of the first. Really depends how many teams will be too gunshy because of his measurements (he’s only 6’10 with a 7 foot wingspan) and how many teams are looking for a big (lots of guards in this draft).

[emunney]

I actually am not big on this draft at all where we're picking. I really like Yam Madar a lot, though, but he seems to be getting no love from anybody so maybe I'm way off.

[Bernman]

I actually am not big on this draft at all where we're picking. I really like Yam Madar a lot, though, but he seems to be getting no love from anybody so maybe I'm way off.

You should have shared you wanted Yam on Thanksgiving not Christmas. It's stale now.

Seriously, is this draft similar to 2013 where strategically it makes sense to gamble on an int'l player? Haven't followed the college season closely by any means. But nobody has stood out to me in limited viewing and I haven't heard much hype.

Of course good chance the Bucks just end up using this as a trade piece. But we see the value in developing behind established players w/ Donte potentially back dooring an impact player to complement Giannis from age, controllable, and salary standpoint.

[slos]

The pick is currently at #19 and there is a big chance it stays there. Dallas, Philly, Toronto, Houston all seem able to keep better records than Indiana. And Utah is also close.

I think at least one of the internationals will be available in the 18-20 range. One of Maledon (PG) or Hayes (PG), maybe even Avdija (SF), will be there to get. It's a deep PG draft, which makes me confident that we can get one to backup Bled/Hill and work with him like we did with DDV.

That said I believe that pick is a keeper for Milwaukee. Ball and Anthony will be in the Top 5, Mannion and Haliburton will come then in the 6-15 range, I guess at least one of Maledon or Hayes must be available for Milwaukee with a 19ish pick. Not all teams will want to draft PGs and I have them both missing the top 15 just beacause there are too many PGs and combo-guards to compete.

[Ruzious]

The pick is currently at #19 and there is a big chance it stays there. Dallas, Philly, Toronto, Houston all seem able to keep better records than Indiana. And Utah is also close.

I think at least one of the internationals will be available in the 18-20 range. One of Maledon (PG) or Hayes (PG), maybe even Avdija (SF), will be there to get. It's a deep PG draft, which makes me confident that we can get one to backup Bled/Hill and work with him like we did with DDV.

That said I believe that pick is a keeper for Milwaukee. Ball and Anthony will be in the Top 5, Mannion and Haliburton will come then in the 6-15 range, I guess at least one of Maledon or Hayes must be available for Milwaukee with a 19ish pick. Not all teams will want to draft PGs and I have them both missing the top 15 just beacause there are too many PGs and combo-guards to compete.

Man, if Hayes is somehow there, the Bucks better take him. I think he's gonna be a star.

Paul Reed of DePaul is a PF I'd love to get at 19ish.

[Matches Malone]

The pick is currently at #19 and there is a big chance it stays there. Dallas, Philly, Toronto, Houston all seem able to keep better records than Indiana. And Utah is also close.

I think at least one of the internationals will be available in the 18-20 range. One of Maledon (PG) or Hayes (PG), maybe even Avdija (SF), will be there to get. It's a deep PG draft, which makes me confident that we can get one to backup Bled/Hill and work with him like we did with DDV.

That said I believe that pick is a keeper for Milwaukee. Ball and Anthony will be in the Top 5, Mannion and Haliburton will come then in the 6-15 range, I guess at least one of Maledon or Hayes must be available for Milwaukee with a 19ish pick. Not all teams will want to draft PGs and I have them both missing the top 15 just beacause there are too many PGs and combo-guards to compete.

Man, if Hayes is somehow there, the Bucks better take him. I think he's gonna be a star.

Paul Reed of DePaul is a PF I'd love to get at 19ish.

Imagine if we could nab Hayes and he turns out to be what Exum should have been before injuries.

[Ron Swanson]

I still like Jalen Smith out of Maryland. Toolsy, athletic, switchable defender and rim-protector with workable jumper mechanics. And he's improved his numbers across the board form last year. Not sure about the guards. Maxey is interesting. Looks like we may be picking just outside of the range where most of the upper tier guys will fall though.

[Ruzious]

The pick is currently at #19 and there is a big chance it stays there. Dallas, Philly, Toronto, Houston all seem able to keep better records than Indiana. And Utah is also close.

I think at least one of the internationals will be available in the 18-20 range. One of Maledon (PG) or Hayes (PG), maybe even Avdija (SF), will be there to get. It's a deep PG draft, which makes me confident that we can get one to backup Bled/Hill and work with him like we did with DDV.

That said I believe that pick is a keeper for Milwaukee. Ball and Anthony will be in the Top 5, Mannion and Haliburton will come then in the 6-15 range, I guess at least one of Maledon or Hayes must be available for Milwaukee with a 19ish pick. Not all teams will want to draft PGs and I have them both missing the top 15 just beacause there are too many PGs and combo-guards to compete.

Man, if Hayes is somehow there, the Bucks better take him. I think he's gonna be a star.

Paul Reed of DePaul is a PF I'd love to get at 19ish.

Imagine if we could nab Hayes and he turns out to be what Exum should have been before injuries.

I think that's exactly what he's turning into - what people were hoping Exum would become.

[ReasonablySober]

God this draft looks incredibly lousy.

[Chuck Diesel]

Paul Reed from Depaul his pretty physically impressive in person. Plays his ass off, definite NBA body. Jumper is a little wonky but he shoots it. Role player potential.

[Shaffty]

God this draft looks incredibly lousy.

the sooner we get out from under the pacers pick the better

[emunney]

I don't think he's a world-beater type of prospect but I like Wendell Moore quite a bit and think he's a much better player and prospect than his numbers indicate.