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

Indiana Pacers options with the 13th pick in the NBA draft: 1. Josh Giddey

Josh Giddey is a bit of a mysterious prospect to some. The 18-year-old Australian point guard is certainly still very raw but has loads of potential.

Giddey suited up in 28 games (26 starts) for the Adelaide 36ers of the National Basketball League and put up averages of 10.9 points, 7.5 assists, and 7.4 rebounds while also recording 11 double-doubles and three triple-doubles.

Giddey has a real feel for the game and is a player who can control the pace of the game from start to finish. He arguably has the best court vision of any point guard in this class. His ability to stop and go with the basketball allows teammates to be rewarded for moving without the basketball. If you cut, he will find you.

While his .427/.293 shooting splits aren’t eye-popping, his playmaking upside easily outweighs his early struggles from 3-point range. He has shown that he is a willing shooter, 99 3-point attempts in 28 contests, and that should be a promising sign that he is willing to improve on that aspect of his game.

At 6’8″, Giddey has the ability to be a mismatch problem for other guards. He is a crafty finisher at the rim with a soft touch and strong body control while in mid-air.

Giddey crashes the glass willingly. Point guards who rebound and push the pace are essential in today’s game. The NBL product has a real knack for the basketball.

With the addition of Caris LeVert last season, the Pacers lost a sense of playing good team basketball. They have great individual talent, but they struggled to keep the basketball moving at times throughout the season. Giddey would help fix this issue instantly.

He wouldn’t be the kind of defensive or shot-creating player next to Brogdon that Davion Mitchell would be in the backcourt, but Giddey would be a willing playmaker and someone who can do a little bit of everything on the floor at the guard spot.

We saw LaMelo Ball and R.J. Hampton, two former NBL players, transition well to the pace of the NBA game. Who is to say that Giddey can’t do the same?

While Mitchell may be the more finished product at this time, taking a gamble on Giddey may be exactly what the Pacers need to elevate themselves up the Eastern Conference ladder in the years to come.