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Pacers Have Many Options Heading Into Draft

By Jake Hyman

Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) reacts after scoring and fouled by Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor (15) during the first half in the 2015 NCAA Men
Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) reacts after scoring and fouled by Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor (15) during the first half in the 2015 NCAA Men /
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The 2014-15 season was never supposed to amount to anything for the Indiana Pacers. Star shooting guard and franchise cornerstone Paul George went down well before the start of the season with a leg injury and his worth was evident. In all his chivalrous glory, George’s late season return couldn’t keep the team from entering the lottery for the first time since 2010.

They nailed their selection back then (George) and will look to capitalize once again. Luck was hard to come by in the draft lottery and the Pacers remained at No. 11 after barely missing out on the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Some may argue that the four spots gained by missing the playoffs was the preferable result to end the season rather getting smoked first round.

The rotation displayed at the conclusion of the season was a far cry from previous seasons. Vogel extracting 37 wins out of the stricken roster cemented his status in the upper echelon on the sidelines. Holes throughout the roster appeared as a result of aging (David West), lack of production (wings) and moving parts (Lance Stephenson).

However, picking at No. 11, the options aren’t limited for a team on the brink of respectability. Whether targeting for a specific need or sticking to his board, president of basketball operations Larry Bird can take various routes when on the clock. To get the Pacers thriving again in the Central Division, adding an instant-impact starter to an already stable rotation is ideal.

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With seemingly both Justise Winslow and Stanley Johnson off the board before the Pacers make their selection at No. 11, complementing George with an athletic wing would play into their new up-tempo attack. While George’s injury certainly derailed any chance to remain among the East’s juggernauts, losing “Born Ready” Lance Stephenson proved more of a detriment than initially thought.

Both Solomon Hill and C.J. Miles bring a limited offensive arsenal to the starting unit. Croatian wing Mario Henzonja offers an athletic frame at the two guard role and is adept at slashing to the basket if still available at No. 11. The more realistic option would be targeting one of the premier three-point gunners in the 2015 class.

Devin Booker spaced the floor flawlessly for college basketball’s most versatile lineup in 2015. As a Kentucky freshman, Booker’s poise guided his developing traits on both ends of the floor. His 10 points per game don’t fully encompass what he brings to the next level. Kentucky’s platoon rotation had player’s numbers skewed in favor of benefitting team basketball.

The most translatable trait Booker possesses is his three-point proficiency, which fuels his total offensive package. His 41 percent behind the arc shows his adept marksman capabilities and an ideal 6’6″ build allows Booker to fire away unabated in most looks.

Outside of drilling looks from the perimeter, Booker is consistent off the dribble pulling up inside the arc. His floor spacing gives Indiana a burst they currently lack in their lineup from whoever they slot at shooting guard. At just 18 years old, Vogel can mold the youngest prospect in this year’s draft into the next heralded marksman.

Also, the team has shown interest in the two guard:

If the Pacers reroute and go in the direction of the interior talents, they’ll have a wide array of prospects to dissect. Two that should draw the interest of the Indiana brass are Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky and Kentucky’s Willie Cauley-Stein.

Kaminsky, fresh off winning the AP Player of the Year and Wooden awards, brings a skill set that diversifies Indiana’s frontcourt. Behemoth Roy Hibbert operates on the block using his massive build for position mixing in a feathery touch. However he’s yet to reach the 50 percent shooting plateau in a season for his career and is set to be a free agent after the season.

Frank the Tank could be a viable option as a successor to the former Hoya. Kaminsky brings one of the most intriguing skill sets as a 7’1″ talent brimming with mismatch potential. He doesn’t have a specific pro comparison due to his unique abilities, but opens up what the Pacers can do in terms of offense.

Indiana, according to Synergy Sports, ranked last in field goal percentage at 39.3 percent from the roll man in pick-and-roll situations.

His 54.7 percent from the floor allowed the big man to put up 18.8 points per game and his height allowed the big man to haul in a Big Ten-leading 8.8 rebounds per game. Kaminsky’s versatility to play either frontcourt position also gives Indiana a chance to spell veteran David West, who, at 34 years old, could use a quality backup.

Indiana, who has been quoted as wanting to play more up-tempo next season, lacks the mobility from their bigs that Kaminsky would bring to the table. Also, the new system favors another big man whose unique frame could warrant a trade up from the team.

Willie Cauley-Stein, along with Karl-Anthony Towns, formed the most stout defensive interior in the nation this past year at Kentucky. At 7’0″ and 240 pounds, Cauley-Stein’s game is the polar opposite to Kaminsky’s. While Kaminsky lacks the athleticism and build to bang with the bigs down low and guard away from the paint, Cauley-Stein excels at venturing outside the restricted area on defense.

It’s his rare athletic tool that has him considered to go in the top six picks without any semblance of a polished offensive game. West, at this stage of his career, isn’t as mobile on the less glamorous end. Cauley-Stein compliments the former All-Star defending the paint or on the perimeter. The ability to lock down on all five positions on the floor has Larry Legend salivating for Willie-Trill:

Cauley-Stein would be an ideal fit in a faster paced Pacers team, but what would it take to make a significant jump in the draft? Both the Knicks and Kings are looking to expedite their rebuilds and could use a gargantuan like Hibbert to anchor the paint. While just the No. 11 pick and Hibbert to move up drastically seems like a faux option in terms of value, we’ll leave it up to Bird to decide what constitutes giving away to get the enforcer from Kentucky.

One thing is for certain, Indiana is doing a magnificent job keeping their intentions within the organization. Not one mock draft from DraftExpress, SB Nation, or the three on CBSSports.com have the same player going to Indy. With a myriad of options, the Pacers have to be enticed with the possibilities to add a vital contributor that jumpstarts a recent beast from the East.

Next: NBA: 5 Playoff Teams Facing Franchise-Altering Summers

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