Pre-Draft Outlook
You have to go back to 1988 to find the Pacers drafting this high (No. 2, Rik Smits), but then you have to go back even further to find them finishing with a worse W-L record (20-62 in 1982-83). Indiana tapped out early this season from any pretense at playoff contention, and the overhaul mentality persists. The defense was porous (28th, 115.5 points per 100 possessions) and the offense was sub-par (18th, 111.9) so there is room for help wherever POBO Kevin Pritchard and staff can find it. Players coming and going last season left the Pacers 21st in rebounds, 23rd in turnovers and 25th in 3-point accuracy.
A Stat That Matters
40% — Tyrese Haliburton was one of five players who shot 40% or better on at least 100 catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts and 40% or better on at least 100 pull-up 3-point attempts.
The Way To Go
This is more than a sit-at-No. 6-and-solve-all-problems situation. The Pacers figure to be aggressive heading into and out of the draft, with Pritchard especially keen on the No. 31 position, that sweet spot of opportunity (talent still on the board) and flexibility (no salary guarantee). As for their lottery pick, someone from what’s firming up as the second tier of prospects such as Iowa’s Keegan Murray, Kentucky’s Shaedon Sharpe or even Arizona wing Bennedict Mathurin makes sense. Keep in mind the current backcourt of Tyrese Haliburton and Chris Duarte is part of the rebuilding team’s core.
Under Contract
G: Malcolm Brogdon
G: Chris Duarte
G: Tyrese Haliburton
G: Buddy Hield
G: T.J. McConnell
G: Duane Washington Jr.
F: Isaiah Jackson
F: Terry Taylor
C/F: Myles Turner
C/F: Goga Bitadze
Free Agents
G: Ricky Rubio (unrestricted)
G: Gabe York (restricted)
G/F: Nate Hinton (restricted)
F/G: Oshae Brissett (team option)
F: Lance Stephenson (unrestricted)
F: T.J. Warren (unrestricted)
F/C: Jalen Smith (unrestricted)
> 2022 Free Agent Tracker
Last year’s Draft
2021: Chris Duarte (13), Sandro Mamukelashvili (54), Georgios Kalatizakis (60)
— Steve Aschburner