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5 Players The Indiana Pacers Should Consider Taking With 11th Pick

By Cameron Stewart

Mar 15, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) works against Arkansas Razorbacks forward Bobby Portis (10) during the second half of the SEC Conference Tournament championship game at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) works against Arkansas Razorbacks forward Bobby Portis (10) during the second half of the SEC Conference Tournament championship game at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 19, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks forward Bobby Portis (10) looks for an open teammate as Wofford Terriers forward C.J. Neumann (31) defends in the second half of a game in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Jacksonville Veteran Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks forward Bobby Portis (10) looks for an open teammate as Wofford Terriers forward C.J. Neumann (31) defends in the second half of a game in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Jacksonville Veteran Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Bobby Portis

Arkansas (SO.)

6’11 246 lbs

College per game stats: 17.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 1.1 steals. 53.6 FG%. 73.7 FT%.

GIF to make you want Portis on your team:

Via CBSSports.com
Via CBSSports.com /

Why The Pacers Should Take Portis:

If the Pacers decide to draft a player based on immediate need, Portis is a player who can fill a hole for the team. The team wants to play quicker and the easiest position to upgrade in the athleticism department is power forward. The combination of David West and Luis Scola is a fine one, but both are past their primes and were never extremely athletic to begin with. With West’s player option and Scola’s upcoming free agency, it won’t be long before the team has a gaping hole at the 4.

Portis possesses the height, athleticism, and high energy that the Pacers have lacked among their bigs for years. West and Scola are both a little shorter than ideal for a power forward and their lack of athleticism and mobility doesn’t help when defending taller power forwards that can shoot over them or play away from the basket. A tall, athletic big man capable of playing power forward must be on the team’s wish list. Portis could allow that dream to come true.

Portis had an outstanding sophomore season in which he improved dramatically. Despite only playing an extra 2.9 minutes per game, Portis upped his scoring average by over 5 points and 2 rebounds per game. His collegiate player efficiency rating of 30.0 is fourth only behind projected top 2 picks Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor as well as collegiate player of the year Frank Kaminsky.

When Portis is on the court, you always know it. His motor is as high as anyone in this draft and he’s constantly making an impact with his effort. When a player is working hard and flying towards the ball, the effort is contageous. Portis’ description of his own game in a pre-draft interview with Jay King of MassLive sums it up best.

"“I’m very crazy,” Portis said. “I play angry. I play mad. I play very angry because every game, I sit in the locker room and I envision that the other player on the team slapped my mom. That’s why I get mad, and now I’ve gotta get you because you slapped my mom.”"

If Portis has one elite skill that will translate to the NBA, it’s his offensive rebounding. Portis finished tenth in the NCAA in offensive rebounds per game with a whopping 3.7 of them per game. In a league where most games are decided by only a few points, those offensive rebounds can be crucial. Offensive rebounding is a highly valued skill in the NBA and if you don’t believe me, just wait until you see the contract Tristan Thompson gets in free agency. The Pacers ranked 21st in offensive rebounds per game last season, a mark that would see a jump with Portis in the rotation.

Portis improved upon his jump shot last season and has a very solid mid-range game. Although the sample size is small, Portis shot 46.7% on three pointers last season, an encouraging sign that Portis could continue to expand his range into three point territory. His jump shot isn’t the prettiest, but it’s effective.

Defensively, Portis isn’t a lockdown defender nor a rim protector, but he holds his own. His size and strength allow him to defend bigs without problems and feels comfortable stepping out to defend smaller players as well.

The other options before him have more upside, but players with Portis’ size, skill, and motor have long productive careers in the NBA. Portis can play power forward or center, which would be a great addition for the Pacers to counter their age and injury issues from last season. Portis could easily slide into the rotation and take either Scola or Ian Mahinmi‘s backup minutes right away and give Frank Vogel some much-needed versatility in his lineups. The Warriors just showed the NBA world how important it is to have players who can play different positions to allow teams to play different styles and Portis could help give the Pacers that luxury.

Who do you think the Pacers should take with the 11th pick? Let us know in the comments below. 

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