The Indiana Pacers made the most of their picks in the 2018 NBA Draft on Thursday night, filling some needs and taking players who should be able to contribute.
It was an eventful night on Thursday, with the 2018 NBA Draft unfolding as few expected. Michael Porter Jr. fell, Jerome Robinson rose and Trae Young dressed like he was auditioning for a remake of Little Rascals.
For the Indiana Pacers, there was quite a bit of mystery heading into what promised to be an important evening for the future of the franchise. Never a free agent destination, the Pacers rely on the draft to restock the cupboard perhaps more than any team in the league. This year, it was especially unclear what items would be left on the shelf when they went to fill up the cart.
After the lottery, little was settled in terms of who would be available. With a clear need at point guard, there was a sense that the Pacers might need to trade up to get their guy.
It turns out they didn’t.