Draft Week '24

Sorry for the lack of posts recently, life has been hectic but hopefully things are starting to normalize. Frankly, I can't think of a better way to get back into the swing of things than with a draft prospect mega thread.

I've always viewed the draft as the apex of who we are as a community. Sure, most fans are bought-in during the season, but only the real sickos are debating second round prospects like the future of the world depends on it. In fact, I think the content of our comment section would transition perfectly to a very sober debate show on Dutch TV.

The Pacers have hosted some interesting prospects in my absence.

Workout #4

peep the list for workout four 👀#GoldOnTheClock pic.twitter.com/VbJCt5q8jF
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 12, 2024

DJ Burns

In a March Madness tournament that was headlined by two mammoth, game-wrecking centers in Edey and Clingan, the fact that DJ Burns was the most popular big man in the tournament is no small feat. Of course, there's nothing small about DJ. At 6'9, 275 (though apparently he's slimmed down for the draft process), Burns captivated audiences with his old school post moves and soft touch.

Can a player like Burns fit in a run and gun system like the Pacers? I highly doubt it but he's a fun prospect nonetheless.

Jalen Bridges

The Baylor forward had the best season of his collegiate career in 2023-24, averaging 12.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game. His production landed him on the All-Big 12 Third Team.

At 6'7, 213, Bridges projects as a Three-and-D role player. His career shooting numbers are a bit unimpressive but this past season he shot 41% on about 5 attempts per game.

Jesse Edwards

Edwards is a big raw 7-foot center. He can operate as a rim runner and pick-and-roll finisher, but his outside touch and feel for the game hold him back.

Antonio Reeves

I'm burying the lede here because Reeves is probably the best fit for the Pacers in this group. Take this quote from the profile I've linked below for example:

Reeves’s scoring is almost entirely predicated on his off-ball movement. While he’s excellent at running off screens and handoffs to then set up on-ball opportunities, he’s rarely going to initiate the offense or act as an on-ball scorer. On the most basic level, Reeves is one of the best spot-up shooters in this class. He ranks in the 93rd percentile spotting up, scoring 1.211 PPP and shooting 45.7% from three, while also ranking in the 95th percentile shooting off the catch scoring 1.36 PPP and shooting 46% from three. Additionally, Reeves is currently scoring 1.353 PPP overall in transition (89th percentile) while shooting 51% from three, 1.087 PPP off screens (74th percentile), and 1.061 PPP on handoffs (77th percentile).

Reeves is an older prospect, he doesn't project to be a good defender, and at 6'6'' he would join an already jam packed rotation at guard. Having said that, the boy can shoot the ball and the Pacers value that trait like water in the desert.

Workout #5

workout 5⃣ participants ⬇️https://t.co/OzVJiTaluY | #GoldOnTheClock pic.twitter.com/aye5P0FnfG
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 17, 2024

Nikola Djurisic

Djurisic is a player firmly on the Pacers radar. He worked out for the team last summer before deciding to withdraw from the draft. He put together a very productive season on a good team in Europe and, honestly, it's doubtful he'll be hanging around at 36.

However, he very well might be because he's not the easiest player to plug into a role on an NBA team. His strengths are driving and playmaking, but he's not close to good enough at either to hand him the ball and let him work. He's also a bit underwhelming defensively, which takes away the most common avenue for bench players to earn rotation minutes. The scouting report below breaks him game down very well and sums it like as follows:

I buy the driving game as being a difference maker at the next level, and the pull-up game is one I’d buy into. The biggest concern offensively is probably the spot-up shooting. Though I’ve said ideally I want him to drive to the rim at the next level, at some point he will have to shoot. Part of the work needs to come in his shot approach, at times he decides to drive from good shooting windows. This is partially what makes him valuable as a driver, but balancing it will be key. I also believe his athleticism is hugely undersold.

The passing is good, it’s whether the playmaking potential will be anchored down by the turnovers. He may turn the ball over at a lower rate in a lower usage role, but the creativity does seem to be part of who he is as a basketball player. Your read on this probably signifies how much you believe in him, because the driving game looks to be good. It will also be interesting early on to see the types of closeouts he receives. Guys low in the rotation normally aren’t featured on the scouting report, but I expect people to work out early on that he prefers to drive. Teams may want him to work more on his shot approach and be selective with drives.

Personally, while the shot has to come around for him to really thrive in Indiana, I think a well rounded player like him would thrive in our ball-hopping offense. If he's there at 36, I think we'd run to the podium.

Allen Flanigan

Injuries hampered Flanigan's collegiate career. He's another 6'6'' wing that likes to score – but isn't really a shooter. Feels like a G-League prospect to me.

Isaac Jones

Six-foot-nine in shoes. Seven-three wingspan. Two-hundred-and-thirty-five pounds. He's very much physical prototype of a modern NBA forward. He had a productive season at Washington State and his performance at the Portsmouth Invitational got him an invite to the NBA Combine.

What's the knock? He's really more of a center. He certainly has the athletic tools to be a defensive menace but he played mostly as a rim protector in drop coverage in college. Offensively, he's a play finisher. He actually reminds me a bit of IJax.

Tristen Newton

Tristen Newton is arguably the most accomplished collegiate player in the draft. He transferred to UCONN two seasons ago and immediately became the leader on back-to-back national title winning teams.

A triple-double threat, Newton is a primary scorer for Huskies, while also leading the team in assists and being among the best rebounders on the roster despite being a guard. He does a little bit of everything and has a tremendous impact on winning. He needs to improve his 3-point consistency, but given his mechanics and reliability from the free throw line, there’s reason to believe his shot will translate fine in the NBA. As a defender, Newton has shown some peskiness on-ball, but has more he needs to show on that end moving forward.

He's the kind of winning player with leadership intangibles that the Pacers front office loves, so don't be surprised if they target him – even if it's not at 36.

Donta Scott

Scott is a stretch four that likes to shoot the ball. Only problem is his percentages aren't NBA quality. I don't see him being picked, to be totally honest.

Workout #6

workout 6 👏https://t.co/AyfIswhAbu | #GoldOnTheClock pic.twitter.com/eruwn4hEFg
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 19, 2024

Adem Bona

Bona is 6'8'' and 243 lbs. He's a really mobile and explosive athlete who excels in transition and finishing above the rim. While he's a physical freak, he's a bit small and he never really developed an offensive game. His tools did help him win Pac-12 DPOY, however.

His athleticism has a place in the NBA, so taking him in the second round feels like a solid gamble.

Rayj Dennis

Is he named after Ray J the singer? If he is... well I'll just say that at this point in my life I'd thought I'd seen it all but life sure is full of surprises, isn't it?

Rayj is a point guard with some size who is adept at running an offense. He has a Mark Jackson type game, where he operates with his back to the hoop. He's a good dimer but his shooting is a concern.

Ariel Hukporti

Hukporti is a big athletic center. At 7'0'', 245 lbs, he can set punishing screens and roll to the basket for a lob dunk. Defensively, his size can be a huge deterrent at the rim.

Can he be more than that? Does he need to be to be a useful backup center? Those are questions that are pushing him down into our range. I think he's someone to keep an eye on as we'll have a hole at third-string 5 after Jalen Smith (likely) leaves.

Daniss Jenkins

Jenkis is another older prospect but he was incredibly productive for Rick Pitino and St. Johns.

Last season with the Red Storm, Jenkins tallied 14.9 points, 5.4 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. The Dallas native led St. John's to their most successful season in years, displaying his skills in huge performances against then-No. 15 Creighton on Feb. 25 and eventual National Champs UConn in the Big East Tournament on March 15...

Jenkins possesses elite playmaking ability, and a surefire jump shot from anywhere in the mid-range. He will be 23 years old by the time the 2024-25 NBA season begins, which will likely cause the guard to fall come draft night.

Keshad Johnson

Keshad Johnson is the type of forward the Pacers have prioritized over the past few years as they've looked to add size and strength to the wing.

Johnson is a 6-foot-7, 225 pound defensive-first wing who is capable of fulfilling the "Strength-4" archetype. Johnson has potential as a point-of-attack defender due to his length, solid lateral quickness and strength. He's an active off-ball defender, as he tags rollers, helps at the nail and conducts other key rotations consistently. Additionally, he's strong enough to hold his own in the post and is an impactful rebounder as well. Offensively, Johnson is developing his catch-and-shoot threes, has shown flashes of getting downhill in the short roll and has shown the capability to execute dribble handoffs.

Bobacar Sane

Big time athlete who played two years with the G-League Ignite. He was a big recruit out of Africa and thought to be a first round talent.

At 6'8'' he is every bit of an NBA forward. Like many of the players who chose the (now defunct) G-League Ignite route, Sane never really developed on the potential that he showed as a youngster. His ability to play on the wing is still more theoretical at this point.

On the bright side, he's only 20 and you can't teach his physical attributes. There's a lot to like about an upshot like Sane, so I wouldn't hate the pick.

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Draft Week '24