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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 Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images /

Indiana Pacers options with the 13th pick in the NBA draft: 2. Davion Mitchell

The 22-year old junior point guard has been a draft riser after his remarkable performance during the 2021 NCAA season and NCAA tournament which ended in a Baylor Bears national title win over Gonzaga.

Once again, this pick can be seen as another eventual replacement, this time for Malcolm Brogdon. Trade rumors have sparked around the Pacers’ point guard, one recently being centered around a deal for Ben Simmons.

While Brogdon’s current status with the team is up in the air and the looming free agency decision of TJ McConnell, there is a definite need to find a point guard in this draft.

Mitchell is an NBA-ready defender. The reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year hounded opposing guards Moses Moody, Quentin Grimes, and Jalen Suggs on his way to an NCAA title.

There have never been questions about Mitchell’s grit on the defensive end. It was his offensive game that made scouts question whether he would even be a first-round pick coming into the 2020-21 NCAA season.

Mitchell’s 3-point percentage shot up twelve percent (32.4 to 44.7) from his sophomore to junior season. Mitchell also tallied career-high averages in points (14.0), assists (5.0), and steals (1.9), to cap off an AP All-American third-team season.

At the age of 22, Mitchell can come in right away and be impactful on both ends of the floor. He can be a primary defender on ball-dominant guards and be a reliable offensive weapon whether that be through catch-and-shoot jumpers or creating his own shot off the dribble.

As a playmaker, Mitchell has improved his ability to make the right reads and find open shooters and rollers with ease. He could be the lead ball-handler for the Pacers if need be, but he has also shown the ability to play off-ball with another ball-dominant guard in Jared Butler at Baylor.

A Brogdon-Mitchell backcourt should be intriguing to Indiana fans. Not having to rely on Brogdon as much to set up the offense could open up more scoring opportunities for the 28-year-old combo guard.

Defensively this would be one of the better backcourts in the East and offensively both have the ability to find their own shot and set up opportunities for others. It could be a seamless fit between the two.

Paired with Brogdon or not, Mitchell may be the most NBA-ready point guard left on the board at this point in the draft.

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