Indiana Pacers Draft Pick Watch Thread

[M-C-G]

I think anyone who expects Bane to be anything more than a catch & shoot guy on offense is gonna be sorely disappointed.

Shooter that can play defense, kind of groom him into the Korver role. That has real value.

It kind of doesn't. Not particularly about Bane, but coming out of college even the best shooters usually don't shoot high percentages in the NBA in their first years. And if guys like Sterling Brown with a somewhat similar pedigree are available for minimum deals (at least that's what I'm assuming Brown is heading towards), using a medium FRP on just a C&S guy with some defense is not where you want to be.

I see what you are saying, and I could be totally mistaken about Bane, but the guy looks like he has four point range to me. If he does, I am okay with using a first on that if he can play defense.

I'm still hoping Pat Williams is there, and there are a TON of guys I just haven't even read anything about yet.

[LuessiT]

1. Saddiq Bey
2. Maledon
3. Maledon

I think Maledon is someone who will benefit most from a team with a stellar developement track record. As he is right now he's at least one probably two years away from being able to step on an NBA court, but he's very versatile and well rounded. With his size and enough strength added, he probably can defend 3 positions (2 decently well), he's got enough ball handling and playmaking upside to be projected as a secondary or at least tertiary playmaker, his form suggests he'll be at least a neutral shooter and despite his average athleticism he's been finishing very well at the rim.
A team that can afford to not get production out of their first round pick in the first two years should get a decent roation player.

[Ron Swanson]

I like Bane but I think overall we're starting to cross the point to where we start over-valuing these 3PT flamethrower types. I'd say he's a pretty "safe" prospect in the sense that I see a specific role for him immediately in the pros, but the problem with thinking that way with certain player archetypes is that you pretty much need that one skill to be elite, otherwise he's going to be a liability. I'd like Bane more in the late-1st/early-2nd. At 17-20 I'm still looking for a bit more upside.

[M-C-G]

I like Bane but I think overall we're starting to cross the point to where we start over-valuing these 3PT flamethrower types. I'd say he's a pretty "safe" prospect in the sense that I see a specific role for him immediately in the pros, but the problem with thinking that way with certain player archetypes is that you pretty much need that one skill to be elite, otherwise he's going to be a liability. I'd like Bane more in the late-1st/early-2nd. At 17-20 I'm still looking for a bit more upside.

Yeah, this is why Bane was my answer for adds the most wins on the rookie contract, but I'm hoping Pat W is there. Also really intrigued by Bolmaro, seems to me IF he can figure out his shot and work with the Suki, there is a lot of upside there.

[LuessiT]

Shooter that can play defense, kind of groom him into the Korver role. That has real value.

It kind of doesn't. Not particularly about Bane, but coming out of college even the best shooters usually don't shoot high percentages in the NBA in their first years. And if guys like Sterling Brown with a somewhat similar pedigree are available for minimum deals (at least that's what I'm assuming Brown is heading towards), using a medium FRP on just a C&S guy with some defense is not where you want to be.

I see what you are saying, and I could be totally mistaken about Bane, but the guy looks like he has four point range to me. If he does, I am okay with using a first on that if he can play defense.

I'm still hoping Pat Williams is there, and there are a TON of guys I just haven't even read anything about yet.

I mean this isn't particularly about Bane. I feel like these days there is too much emphasis on percentages. I don't particularly care in an in game situation if my Player A (37% 3 point shooter) or my Player B (41% 3 point shooter) takes the wide open jumper. Both are very reasonable shots that should finish the possession.
What makes a significant difference is if Player A has to pass up the shot because of a closeout, but Player B can take it. Or Player C who can put the ball on the floor and attack said closeout. Or Player D who can find the extra pass.

As for Bane, I don't think he's in the same realm in terms of shooting than guys like Howard, Isaiah Joe, etc. Now can he make it up in other departments? I don't know, I'm not an expert on him.

[M-C-G]

It kind of doesn't. Not particularly about Bane, but coming out of college even the best shooters usually don't shoot high percentages in the NBA in their first years. And if guys like Sterling Brown with a somewhat similar pedigree are available for minimum deals (at least that's what I'm assuming Brown is heading towards), using a medium FRP on just a C&S guy with some defense is not where you want to be.

I see what you are saying, and I could be totally mistaken about Bane, but the guy looks like he has four point range to me. If he does, I am okay with using a first on that if he can play defense.

I'm still hoping Pat Williams is there, and there are a TON of guys I just haven't even read anything about yet.

I mean this isn't particularly about Bane. I feel like these days there is too much emphasis on percentages. I don't particularly care in an in game situation if my Player A (37% 3 point shooter) or my Player B (41% 3 point shooter) takes the wide open jumper. Both are very reasonable shots that should finish the possession.
What makes a significant difference is if Player A has to pass up the shot because of a closeout, but Player B can take it. Or Player C who can put the ball on the floor and attack said closeout. Or Player D who can find the extra pass.

As for Bane, I don't think he's in the same realm in terms of shooting than guys like Howard, Isaiah Joe, etc. Now can he make it up in other departments? I don't know, I'm not an expert on him.

All fair thoughts...part of why I try to throw in 'if he can play defense', because with Howard, sure he can shoot, but don't think he can play in our defense. The bits I have read about Bane lead me to believe he can stick on D.

And then it seems to me he has the off the ball skills and movement to take minutes in that Korver role, and seems like he has deep range which I care about more than the %. All that said, I haven't made time to watch college bball in two years, and I've done about 38 minutes of research on this draft....so basically I am an expert.

[Badgerlander]

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[RiotPunch]

I disagree that Bane is just a C&S guy. He has the ability to shoot well off movement and off the dribble, while showing chops as a tertiary initiator, especially out of PnR situations. Most pure shooters cannot attack a closeout and make the correct read as Bane can.

Defensively, I can understand some of the lateral movement concerns. He is going to struggle to stay in front of some guys, but his team defense and overall IQ on both ends is remarkably high. I'll be shocked if he's not a part of someone's rotation as a rookie.

[RiotPunch]

A very honest take on Bane.

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[emunney]

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High level role player, definitely more than just a shooter.

One thing I bring up every year is the popular idea that athleticism = upside, and that an unskilled player has more room to improve skills than a skilled player, when typically that hierarchy doesn't re-sort within a cohort--that's to say, a player being highly skilled often says something about their capacity for skill growth, and those guys typically grow their skillsets and improve existing skills as much or more than unskilled guys. We get tantalized by the upside of length and athleticism but not by the upside represented by skill and IQ. Unskilled guys don't become skilled guys within cohort, and dumb guys don't become smart guys, any more often than unathletic guys become athletic guys.

Everybody gets it basically right on youth, obviously, and Bane isn't young, but we also have to remember that if there's a current difference in quality of play between a 20 year old and a 22 year old, it's not a given that the 20 year old ever makes it up, depending on the degree of difference, of course. I'm not super moved by the idea that it has to be made up soon enough such that the younger player outplays the older guy in aggregate in the rookie deal to justify taking the younger guy, but that should be considered.

Obviously there's a threshold of physical traits beneath which a guy can't hack it, but I don't think there's an argument to be made that Bane doesn't reach it.

[Ron Swanson]

Bane isn't exactly lacking in physical tools or athleticism though. He's built like a 6'5 Eric Bledsoe and he's a good vertical athlete, which was why Connaughton was a comparison I couldn't get out of my head. Questions are pretty much entirely around his offensive skill level, defensive IQ, and whether or not he's as elite a distance shooter as his percentages suggest once he gets to the NBA.

I actually think the opposite is often true. Guys with good physical tools tend to have a higher floor because they're less likely to be defensive liabilities or completely out-matched against NBA athletes. Tyrell Terry for example, is probably a guy who has a way higher bust potential than people think. Bane's the safer guy, but if you're asking me for a home-run swing type candidate, give me either Terry or Poku.

[ReasonablySober]

Bane looks like Sterling Brown to me.

[BucksFanSD]

I don't see any juniors or seniors in this draft that look like they should be drafted before 20. Including Bane, who I believe will be a good pick later in the draft as a better shooting Keith Bogans type role player.

[LuessiT]

I don't see any juniors or seniors in this draft that look like they should be drafted before 20. Including Bane, who I believe will be a good pick later in the draft as a better shooting Keith Bogans type role player.

I'm still on the fence about Marcus Howard. Honestly I'm really surprised not a single outlet has him going in the lottery. To me he's a very polarizing prospect and the player with the most gravity in the draft.

[M-C-G]

Bane looks like Sterling Brown to me.

In what way? I don't see the comparison.

[ReasonablySober]

Bane looks like Sterling Brown to me.

In what way? I don't see the comparison.

Same size, same kind of athleticism, both elite college shooters, questionable handle. Bane's more of a playmaker.

[M-C-G]

Bane looks like Sterling Brown to me.

In what way? I don't see the comparison.

Same size, same kind of athleticism, both elite college shooters, questionable handle. Bane's more of a playmaker.

Was Sterling considered an elite college shooter? I can't recall from when we drafted him, but I thought we were getting a bruiser, high motor guy.

[ReasonablySober]

In what way? I don't see the comparison.

Same size, same kind of athleticism, both elite college shooters, questionable handle. Bane's more of a playmaker.

Was Sterling considered an elite college shooter? I can't recall from when we drafted him, but I thought we were getting a bruiser, high motor guy.

Never real high volume but he was hitting at ridiculous percentages from outside.

[machu46]

In what way? I don't see the comparison.

Same size, same kind of athleticism, both elite college shooters, questionable handle. Bane's more of a playmaker.

Was Sterling considered an elite college shooter? I can't recall from when we drafted him, but I thought we were getting a bruiser, high motor guy.

He didn't take a ton of 3's, but he took 1-4 3's per game and hit them at a 45% clip over his 4 years in college. He was a guy I was interested in in the first round at the time as a 3nD guy.

[Ron Swanson]

It's actually pretty insane how similar Bane's senior shooting splits are to both Sterling and Patty C:

PC: 12/7/1 on 46/42/78
SB: 13/6/3 on 46/45/79
DB: 16/6/3 on 46/44/79