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Ranking the top 3 League Pass teams after the 2022 NBA Draft

By Luke Duffy

NEW YORK, NY, USA - JUNE 23: (L-R) Blake Wesley, Walker Kessler, Jaden Hardy, Tari Eason, Jalen Williams, Jalen Duren, AJ Griffen, Dyson Daniels, Johnny Davis, Jabari Smith, Bennedict Mathurin, Chet Holmgren, Jaden Ivy, Paulo Banchero, Shaedon Sharpe, Jeremy Sochan, TyTy Washington, Keegan Murray, Ochai Agbaji, Ousmane Dieng, Malaki Branham, Mark Williams, Marjon Beauchamp, Nikola Jovic pose for a group onstage during the 2022 NBA Draft on June 23, 2022 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY, USA - JUNE 23: (L-R) Blake Wesley, Walker Kessler, Jaden Hardy, Tari Eason, Jalen Williams, Jalen Duren, AJ Griffen, Dyson Daniels, Johnny Davis, Jabari Smith, Bennedict Mathurin, Chet Holmgren, Jaden Ivy, Paulo Banchero, Shaedon Sharpe, Jeremy Sochan, TyTy Washington, Keegan Murray, Ochai Agbaji, Ousmane Dieng, Malaki Branham, Mark Williams, Marjon Beauchamp, Nikola Jovic pose for a group onstage during the 2022 NBA Draft on June 23, 2022 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) /
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Ranking the top 3 League Pass teams after the 2022 NBA Draft
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 23: NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) and Bennedict Mathurin pose for photos after Mathurin was drafted with the 6th overall pick by the Indiana Pacers during the 2022 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2022 in New York City, Ranking the top 3 League Pass teams after the 2022 NBA Draft. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

Ranking the top 3 League Pass teams after the 2022 NBA Draft: Indiana Pacers

This is a potentially strange place to start because you can be nearly sure that the Indiana Pacers roster is going to look considerably different by the time opening night rolls around. But if we take their group as is right now as the one that will begin the season, then what a mad and intriguing bunch this could turn out to be.

One that might actually surprise a few people on the way to picking up some wins. The Pacers selected Benedict Mathurin with the sixth pick in the draft, and everybody seemed happy with that one. He was probably the best guy to take at that position and one who had solid workouts and who front offices thought said all of the right things and had the right demeanor about him.

His size and athleticism mean he will be worth watching on his own to see how he integrates into the league, but check out some of the other names currently on the roster. Myles Turner, Malcolm Brogdon, Buddy Hield, Ricky Rubio, T.J. Warren, and Chris Duarte. Also, somehow, Lance Stephenson is still listed.

It is a fairly safe bet that one of Turner or Brogdon will be gone by opening night. Leaving the other to frantically scramble and play as hard as they can on a roster full of driven players, to try and work a way out of town for themselves. Hield will also continue to have trade value as long as he continues being one of the best three-point shooters in the league.

Really, though, it will be fascinating to see Duarte and Mathurin play so hard that they keep the team in games, while Brogdon and Turner then try to take over to put themselves in the shop window.

Hield will continue to do his thing (all while not looking like he cares one way or the other), and Warren will try and turn into “Bubble Warren, a.k.a. Michael Jordan,” at all times. With head coach Rick Carlisle overseeing this group, it is going to be a strange ride.