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Indiana Pacers: 5 best options for the No. 13 pick in the NBA Draft

By Lance Legere

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 02: A general view of the Indiana Pacers logo on the court before the game between the Charlotte Hornets and Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 02, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 02: A general view of the Indiana Pacers logo on the court before the game between the Charlotte Hornets and Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 02, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Indiana Pacers, NBA draft (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Indiana Pacers, NBA draft (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Indiana Pacers options with the 13th pick in the NBA draft: 3. Kai Jones

Myles Turner is no stranger to being in trade rumors, and that doesn’t change as we head into the 2021 offseason. If Indiana receives an offer that intrigues them, they may go ahead and pull the trigger. This is where Kai Jones comes into the picture.

The Texas sophomore is a high-flying big man who is one of the best athletes in this draft, a trait that outweighs his 2021 stat line. The reigning Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year put up 8.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 58 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from downtown, nearly nine percent better than he shot his freshman season from three.

While these stats don’t bounce off the page, Jones is still a very raw talent, who with the right system could be unlocked into an athletic freak at the pro level.

He is an immediate rim running threat and has shown flashes of being able to create his own shot with a reliable handle for a big man. Jones has proven to be a versatile defender, which could benefit him greatly when teams try and hunt for him on pick-and-roll switches.

Turner was only a career 27.4 percent 3-point shooter during his lone year at Texas but has increased that rate tremendously while with the Pacers. You could say that Jones is farther along with his offensive game at this point than Turner was entering the draft.

You could go one of two avenues in pursuing Jones. Option A is finding a trade partner that gives you a starting-caliber player in return, preferably a point guard or established big-man, for Turner and making Jones your center of the future.

Option B is having Turner mentor Jones. They have very similar styles of play and Turner could show Jones what it takes to be an elite rim protector in the NBA. This all depends on how the Pacers view Goga Bitadze and his development.

It is a high-risk, high-reward situation for the Pacers. Jones could pan out to be a quality NBA center and good replacement and better fit next to Sabonis, or he could ultimately be a fringe rotation player who never reaches his true potential.

This will be an interesting pick to follow up on if Indiana decides to go this route.

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