Welcome to NBA draft season where unlike the playoffs, the Pacers will be a major player.
The NBA Draft lottery is four days away, which is just 96 hours or 5.760 minutes — but who’s counting?
For Pacers fans, who’s not counting?
Everyone wants to know what the Pacers are going to do to improve this offseason but there are several vital variables which prevents anyone, including Kevin Pritchard, from knowing exactly how the offseason will play out.
Among the most vital of the variables is the draft order which will be determined on Tuesday evening where the Pacers will learn which draft slot they have between one thru nine in the selection order.
But with two known picks at the start and end of the second round, the Pacers tipped off their draft prep on Friday with their first prospect workout. The six players are all expected to be second round picks, at best. That group included the following players.
- Fardwas Aimaq – 6’11 Center out of Utah Valley, 23 years old
- Moussa Diabate – 6’10 Center out of Michigan, 20 years old
- Boogie Ellis – 6’3 Guard out of USC, 21 years old
- Jordan Hall – 6’7 Guard out of St. Josephs’, 20 years old
- Hyunjung Lee – 6’7 Forward out of Davidson, 21 years old
- Josh Minott – 6’8 Forward out of Memphis, 20 years old
The Pacers can’t bring in too many active and athletic forwards, the type of players several remaining playoff contenders rely on when defense matters in the post-season. Diabate and Minott are both those type of active players that will need to develop complete games to make an impact in the league, but at least will start from a great place.
According to ESPN’s latest ranking of 100 draft prospects, Minott rated the highest at No. 47. Hyunjung Lee and his strong shooting ability checks in at No. 47.
Check out the workout report from Pacers.com for more details on the players.