The Indiana Pacers are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. The Pacers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league’s Eastern Conference Central Division. The team is named after the state of Indiana’s history with the Indianapolis 500’s pace cars and with the harness racing industry
The Pacers have won three championships, in 1970, 1972, and 1973, all in the American Basketball Association (ABA). They also reached the ABA Finals in 1969 and 1975. The Pacers were NBA Eastern Conference Champions in 2000. The team has also won nine division titles. Six Hall of Fame players – Reggie Miller, Chris Mullin, Alex English, Mel Daniels, Roger Brown, and George McGinnis – played with the Pacers for multiple seasons
History: The NBA draft is an annual event dating back to 1947 in which the teams from the NBA can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. Historically, the vast majority of players drafted are college players
The draft usually takes place near the end of June, during the NBA offseason. Since 1989, the draft has consisted of two rounds; this is much shorter than the entry drafts of the other major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, all of which run at least seven rounds. Sixty players are selected in each draft
Collegiate players dominated the NBA draft for decades since its inception in 1950. From 1995–2005, NBA teams drafted a slew of just-graduated high school standouts like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, Tracy McGrady and Amar’e Stoudemire. To counteract this, the NBA implemented an age requirement in July of 2005.
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The Indiana Pacers had four picks in the 2023 NBA draft:
8th overall: Jarace Walker (PF), Houston (Fr.). The Pacers acquired this pick from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Bilal Coulibaly (SF), who was selected 7th overall by the Pacers. Walker is a versatile forward who can score inside and outside, rebound, defend multiple positions, and play with high energy. He averaged 14.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game for Houston as a freshman
26th overall: Ben Sheppard (SG), Belmont (Sr.). Sheppard is a sharpshooter who led Belmont to a 28-4 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance as a senior. He averaged 18.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 48% from the field and 43% from three-point range. He also won the OVC Player of the Year award and was named to the AP All-America Third Team
47th overall: Mojave King (SG), G League Ignite (NBA G League). The Pacers acquired this pick from the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a three-team trade involving the Denver Nuggets and Maxwell Lewis (SF). King is a young and athletic guard who played for the G League Ignite team alongside other top prospects like Scoot Henderson and Leonard Miller. He averaged 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game while shooting 38% from three-point range in 15 games for the Ignite team. He also represented Australia at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Latvia, where he averaged 14 points per game and helped his team win a bronze medal.
55th overall: Isaiah Wong, PG, Miami. The Pacers added some depth at point guard with Wong, who was one of the most improved players in college basketball last season. Wong averaged 17.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists as a sophomore at Miami. He is a crafty scorer who can create his own shot.
The Indiana Pacers have made some interesting selections in the last five NBA drafts. Here are their top picks from each year and their grades based on their performance so far:
2023: Bilal Coulibaly (No. 7 overall, traded to Washington Wizards). Grade: N/A. The Pacers traded this pick to the Wizards for Jarace Walker, who was selected at No. 8. Walker is a versatile forward who can play multiple positions and has a high upside. He has not played in the NBA yet, so it is too early to judge this trade.
2022: Bennedict Mathurin (No. 6 overall). Grade: B+. Mathurin is a talented wing who can score, rebound and defend. He averaged 16.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in his rookie season, shooting 43.4% from the field and 32.3% from three-point range. He has shown flashes of potential, but he needs to improve his consistency and efficiency.
2021: Chris Duarte (No. 13 overall). Grade: B-. Duarte is a mature and experienced guard who can shoot, pass and play defense. He averaged 10.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in his first season, shooting 41% from the field and 34.7% from three-point range. He was a solid contributor for the Pacers, but he did not have a lot of room for improvement at age 24.
2020: Cassius Stanley (No. 54 overall). Grade: C+. Stanley is an athletic and explosive guard who can finish above the rim. He only played in 24 games for the Pacers, averaging 1.5 points and 0.6 rebounds per game. He spent most of his time in the G League, where he averaged 12.9 points and 3 rebounds per game. He has potential, but he needs to develop his skills and confidence.
2019: Goga Bitadze (No. 18 overall). Grade: C-. Bitadze is a big man who can shoot, block shots and rebound. He averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds per game in his first two seasons, shooting 46.8% from the field and 28% from three-point range. He struggled with injuries, consistency and playing time behind Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner. He has not lived up to his draft position yet.
Overall, the Pacers have drafted some promising players in the last five years, but they have not found any stars or franchise changers. They have also made some questionable trades and decisions that have affected their draft capital and roster construction. They need to make better use of their picks in the future if they want to compete in the Eastern Conference.
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FAQs
Q: Why did the Pacers trade their No. 7 pick to the Wizards?
A: The Pacers traded their No. 7 pick to the Wizards for Jarace Walker, who was selected at No. 8. Walker is a versatile forward who can play multiple positions and has a high upside. He is also younger and cheaper than Bilal Coulibaly, who was picked by the Wizards at No. 7.
Q: How did the Pacers acquire the No. 26 pick from the Cavaliers?
A: The Pacers acquired the No. 26 pick from the Cavaliers in a trade that involved Caris LeVert and Ricky Rubio in 2022. The Pacers sent LeVert to the Cavaliers for Rubio, a second-round pick (Andrew Nembhard) and this first-round pick.
Q: Who is Bennedict Mathurin and what are his strengths and weaknesses?
A: Bennedict Mathurin is a talented wing who was drafted by the Pacers at No. 6 in 2022. He is from Canada and played college basketball at Arizona. He averaged 16.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in his rookie season, shooting 43.4% from the field and 32.3% from three-point range. His strengths are his scoring, rebounding and defense. His weaknesses are his consistency and efficiency.
Q: What are the expectations for Jarace Walker in his rookie season?
A: Jarace Walker is expected to be a key contributor for the Pacers in his rookie season. He is a versatile forward who can play multiple positions and has a high upside. He has a good combination of size, athleticism, skill and IQ. He can score, pass, rebound and defend at a high level. He needs to improve his shooting and decision-making.
Q: How do the Pacers plan to use their five draft picks in 2023?
A: The Pacers do not plan to keep all five of their draft picks in 2023. They are likely to use some of them in trades to improve their roster or acquire future assets. They are also open to receiving offers from other teams for their picks. They will look for players who fit their culture and system, as well as their needs and goals.
