Indiana Pacers draft preview 2023: Draft targets, needs, picks, and mock draft

The Indiana Pacers have completed year one of their rebuild and will be entering year two on an upward trajectory. Among the fan base, there is a divide. Some want the team to push all the chips in and go for a playoff run. Meanwhile, others like the organization to continue to build the roster and not rush the path to contention. The correct path is somewhere in the middle, and that’s the tricky part.

This year, the Pacers will be selecting in the NBA draft lottery for the third consecutive season. Their last two lottery picks were Chris Duarte (2021) and Bennedict Mathurin (2022). It’s clear that Mathurin will be a star in this league, quite possibly a perennial All-Star. On the other hand, it remains to be seen what is in store for Duarte’s future

What is clear is this team needs more talent. And they especially need more talent on the wing, preferably a big wing that can be a tough defender. So here’s a look at how the Pacers can use the upcoming NBA draft to continue to improve the team.

Indiana Pacers draft picks

The Indiana Pacers have a total of five draft picks in the upcoming draft. Neither one of their second-round picks are Indiana’s original picks, as that selection was included in the trade with Sacramento last year to acquire Tyrese Haliburton.

1st round, 7th overall
1st round 26th overall
1st round 29th overall
2nd round 32nd overall
2nd round 55th overall

Indiana Pacers draft targets

NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament West Regional Practice — Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

As previously stated, the Pacers will be looking to use their first selection in the draft on the best player available. Preferably, this will be a prospect who is able to play the power forward spot alongside Myles Turner. And he’ll be athletic enough to guard the small forward, power forward, and sometimes the center position. The good news is that the Blue and Gold should have plenty of options to choose from.

The problem is, each one of these players offers their own strengths and weaknesses. Some of the most common names associated with the Pacers are:

Anthony Black
Jarace Walker
Taylor Hendricks
Cam Whitmore
Ausar Thompson

Just some quick nuggets on all of these athletes:

Black is 6-foot-7 but was more of a point guard at Arkansas. How effective can he be alongside Haliburton, where he won’t have the ball as much, running the offense?
Walker is an ideal fit. However, he’s also an ideal match for several teams ahead of the Pacers in the draft, and it’s possible he doesn’t make it to seven.
Hendricks is another ideal fit for the team. He’s more likely to be available at seven for the Blue and Gold. However, he offers more offensive upside than Walker, so it’s possible this aspect vaults him higher up in the draft.
Whitmore is the latest talented wing to emerge from Villanova. He represents more of a safe pick. A player who doesn’t necessarily have a high ceiling but also has a high floor.
Thompson is currently a project. However, what he’s projected to become in the NBA is extremely enticing. This could cause him to go very early in the draft or fall. It’s also possible that Thompson ends up being just another athlete and doesn’t have a long NBA career.

Indiana Pacers draft needs

Again, as previously mentioned, this Pacers team needs a big athletic wing that can play strong defense and provide some offense. They’d also like this guy to be able to provide some offensive punch and possibly be the team’s third scoring option as he continues to get better.

Considering the team has said they won’t be making selections with all of their picks and the fact that they’re going to be aggressive this offseason. A need that may need to be addressed is the future backup point guard spot. T.J. McConnell is adored by the organization, but he’s older and doesn’t fit the team’s timeline.

Andrew Nembhard was a steal in last year’s draft and is the clear future backup point guard. However, he showed he could someday be a capable starting point guard in the NBA. It’s very possible that the Pacers have to include him in a trade to move up in the draft or acquire a veteran NBA player.

Then there’s also the need for a future center. Turner signed a two-year contract extension with the team during the season. However, just like with Nembhard, Turner could be traded this offseason or sometime before his contract expires, in order to improve the roster.