Indiana Pacers Draft Pick Watch Thread

[tedbrogen]

Going to be a tough draft for Horst with no March Madness film to fall back on. For better or worse loves guys that show up big in the tourney.

[LuessiT]

Going to be a tough draft for Horst with no March Madness film to fall back on. For better or worse loves guys that show up big in the tourney.

That might be true but we only really have a sample size of 2 drafts (one in which he took over just recently). May just be a random observation.

[tedbrogen]

Going to be a tough draft for Horst with no March Madness film to fall back on. For better or worse loves guys that show up big in the tourney.

That might be true but we only really have a sample size of 2 drafts (one in which he took over just recently). May just be a random observation.

Won't be able to know from this year's draft, or probably even 2021 draft as there is no chance CBB happens this fall/winter in this country barring a miracle vaccine.

[BucksFanSD]

Vecenie's version 6.0 of The Athletic's mock came out.

1. Edwards
2. Ball
3. Wiseman
4. Avdija
5. Okongwu
6. Okoro
7. Haliburton
8. Toppin
9. Vassell
10. Hayes
11. Nesmith
12. Achiuwa
13. Anthony
14. Lewis Jr.
15. Hampton
16. Patrick Williams
17. Tyrese Maxey
18. Aleksej Pokusevski
19. Milwaukee Bucks (via IND)
Theo Maledon | 6-4 guard | 19 years old | ASVEL

The Bucks will now be very likely to end up with this top-20 pick after the Pacers have lost a few guys. What does a team this dominant need? Well, that’s a good question. Brook Lopez is under contract long-term, as is Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe. Giannis Antetokounmpo is not under contract long-term, but the Bucks are screwed anyway if he leaves. So basically, what should the team look to add? Honestly, I think a best player available approach is probably smart. Having said that, I also think the point guard position makes a lot of sense to target. Milwaukee will know if this is the case again before the draft, but if Bledsoe struggles again in the playoffs, the team is going to have to try to find a different option in the backcourt. And even if he doesn’t, it would make some real sense to target a backup at the position anyway given George Hill’s age and the fact that Donte Divincenzo profiles best off of the ball.

Here, I’ve gone Maledon. Maledon came on a bit for ASVEL late, finally getting over a shoulder injury that nagged him earlier in the season. A wiry 6-foot-4 combo guard, he has good speed on the ground even if he’s not particularly explosive vertically. He also has good length that should allow him to guard multiple positions. That he’s carved out a role for a solid Euroleague team is impressive for an 18-year-old, especially with him having dealt with some adversity because of injury this year. He averaged 7.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists while also posting relatively efficient shooting numbers in Euroleague competition. He’s a smart player, and considered to have terrific work ethic that should allow him to reach whatever his ceiling is.

20. Saddiq Bey
21. Stewart
22. Green
23. Jones
24. NNaji
25. McDaniels
26. Bolmaro
27. Mannion
28. Oturu
29. Ramsey
30. Terry

I like Maledon.

Edited: Added more of the mock picks.

[ReasonablySober]

Maledon kinda Exum-ish?

[Ron Swanson]

I'd raise issue with the idea that Donte isn't well suited to fill the secondary play-maker role, and an even bigger issue with the idea that Maledon would be a "BPA" candidate at #19 (I pretty much disagree with both). Give me Kira Lewis, Terry, or hell, even Tre Jones over Maledon.

[StickeeFingaz]

I'd raise issue with the idea that Donte isn't well suited to fill the secondary play-maker role, and an even bigger issue with the idea that Maledon would be a "BPA" candidate at #19 (I pretty much disagree with both). Give me Kira Lewis, Terry, or hell, even Tre Jones over Maledon.

Since the full mock wasn't posted, Kira Lewis was already gone by our pick but Terry and Tre Jones were available.

[BucksFanSD]

I'd raise issue with the idea that Donte isn't well suited to fill the secondary play-maker role, and an even bigger issue with the idea that Maledon would be a "BPA" candidate at #19 (I pretty much disagree with both). Give me Kira Lewis, Terry, or hell, even Tre Jones over Maledon.

Like Lewis and Terry, Maledon has shown good production at a young age and has good work ethic along with good character. Those traits usually pay off over time. I would really like any of them.

[LuessiT]

Maledon kinda Exum-ish?

I'm not super familiar with Exum pre draft but iirc he was viewed as insanely rapid. Maledon at best has above average speed and isn't particularly explosive.

[BucksFanSD]

I'd raise issue with the idea that Donte isn't well suited to fill the secondary play-maker role, and an even bigger issue with the idea that Maledon would be a "BPA" candidate at #19 (I pretty much disagree with both). Give me Kira Lewis, Terry, or hell, even Tre Jones over Maledon.

Since the full mock wasn't posted, Kira Lewis was already gone by our pick but Terry and Tre Jones were available.

I just added all of the 1st round mock picks.

[emunney]

Maledon kinda Exum-ish?

I don't think they're similar as someone who was big on Exum and really likes Maledon. Exum was more of a drive and kick guy, kind of a rudimentary PG. Maledon is a traditional lead guard, good feel and pace on the PnR, PG skillset and mindset.

[JayMKE]

Exum had quite a bit of hype before the draft and it wasn't just as a PG, I remember people trying to compare him to Kobe. I probably went overboard hating on him but I remember in the vids he was dominating skinny 5'6" white kids, physically they just couldn't compete which to me was a pretty big red flag. Competition is important, I really don't like HS age PGs as they're just too hard to project. I'm sure that Maledon is playing much tougher competition as a pro in France.

[Badgerlander]

With Lewis, Pat Will, and Poku off the board I’d be fine with Maledon, Mannion, Bane, or Riller

[M-C-G]

With Lewis, Pat Will, and Poku off the board I’d be fine with Maledon, Mannion, Bane, or Riller

You think Mannion has the size to play in the NBA?

[Badgerlander]

With Lewis, Pat Will, and Poku off the board I’d be fine with Maledon, Mannion, Bane, or Riller

You think Mannion has the size to play in the NBA?

6’3”? Sure, needs to add strength but most 19 year olds do

[emunney]

I'd be very worried about Mannion defensively, no excuse for some of the habits he has.

[M-C-G]

With Lewis, Pat Will, and Poku off the board I’d be fine with Maledon, Mannion, Bane, or Riller

You think Mannion has the size to play in the NBA?

6’3”? Sure, needs to add strength but most 19 year olds do

huh, for some reason I thought he was shorter.

[M-C-G]

I've now scouted Nico exhaustively for nearly 10 minutes. So I am now a Nico expert. I see the appeal, but I worry a lot of what he does isn't going to work with NBA length lurking about. And defensively, not sure what you can do with him, seems like most PG will overpower him and not sure he can match up against anything but PGs.

Wouldn't be disappointed with the pick, but seems like he'd need a lot of time in the weightroom to get to playable.

[Badgerlander]

https://stats.nba.com/articles/2020-nba-draft-profile-nico-mannion/



Nico definitely needs a strong team defense around him.

https://www.si.com/longform/2017/nico-mannion-high-school-basketball/index.html

[Ron Swanson]

I honestly don't know if Mannion is even draftable. Mid-late 2nd round maybe? Average size, good but not great athleticism, putrid efficiency, short arms with defensive question marks?

Hard pass.