The Indiana Pacers were one of the most impressive teams in the league last season, managing to amass a 45-28 record last season — good for a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs — even without two-time Victor Oladipo available for much of it.
Between Malcom Brogdon, Domantas Sabonis and T.J. Warren, the Pacers have found three players who can be key pieces of deep playoff runs. Now, Indiana must decide what to do about Oladipo’s contract extension and determine the best way to improve their offense in an abbreviated offseason.
Related: Full Indiana Pacers 2020 Salary Cap Preview
2020 NBA Draft Picks
| No. 54 overall |
Pacers Draft Needs
Offense is the name of the game for the Pacers as they do their homework for the 2020 NBA Draft. Yet, with only a late second round pick, there’s not a high chance that they’ll find immediate help in that area.
Perhaps Indiana tries to make a draft night trade involving Myles Turner due to the rise of Sabonis; it’s possible that the Pacers can get a late first-round pick from such a move because of Turner’s age and abilities as a shot-blocker. In such a scenario, Indiana would be able to address their offensive needs as there are plenty of prospects who could add firepower in that draft range.
Indiana is one of those lucky teams that doesn’t have to worry about their depth, as only one rotation player — Justin Holiday — will become a free agent. However, they could look to replace Holiday in the draft, locating a respectable ‘3-and-D’ player in the second round.
2020 NBA Draft Prospect Watchlist
| No. 54 overall |
| PG Tre Jones, Duke |
| SG Jay Scrubb, John A. Logan |
| G Jalen Harris, Nevada |
| C Nick Richards, Kentucky |
| PF Paul Reed, DePaul |
What The Mocks Are Saying
| The Athletic | Paul Reed (No. 54) |
Projected Roster
| PG | Malcolm Brogdon |
| PG | Aaron Holiday |
| PG | T.J. McConnell |
| PG | Edmond Sumner |
| SG | Victor Oladipo |
| SG | Jeremy Lamb |
| SF | T.J. Warren |
| PF | Doug McDermott |
| PF | T.J. Leaf |
| F-C | Domantas Sabonis |
| C | Myles Turner |
| C | Goga Bitazde |
