The Indiana Pacers had a disappointing 2021 season which ended with a record of 25-57. Despite this, the franchise had some high points including trading for Tyrese Haliburton. The 22-year-old has brought some life back to the organization and has impressed in his 26 games with the team. The Pacers have increased hope moving forward and will look for a turnaround season in 2022.
One of the ways they will hope to accelerate the team's growth is through their use of the sixth overall pick. The Pacers hold a great chance to add another key piece to the franchise. While there are several notable targets for the Pacers to be looking at, here are three guys who are not a match for the selection.
Pacers 2022 NBA Draft prospects they must avoid
Jalen Duren- Center Memphis
The Pacers have attempted to make the duo of Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis work for quite some time. The repetitive attempts of shoving the mismatched pieces together failed to produce success. Indiana finally managed to flip Sabonis for Tyrese Haliburton in a move that altered the franchise's course in an extremely positive way. Electing to take a big man with the sixth pick would be a massive step backward. The Pacers have found their core for a successful team and must add the missing pieces to maximize this talent. Adding another big man with their best offseason asset would be extremely disappointing.
This is not to say Jalen Duren will not be a successful NBA player. The Memphis product is an impressive defender and rebounder with an admirable motor. His 2.1 blocks per game and 14% offensive rebounding rate will be a major asset on whatever team he lands on. However, it would be a step back for the Pacers if they add another prized big man to pair with Myles Turner.
Dyson Daniels- Wing G-League Ignite
A recent draft riser after an interesting season in the G-League, Dyson Daniels is an intriguing prospect. He averaged 11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.0 steals per game in his lone season with the Ignite. Daniels is an Australian wing who has a versatile game. He impresses on the defensive side of the ball and does the little things a team needs. The 6'7″ wing has a high motor and averaged 2.0 offensive rebounds per game. He is a fun player to watch in transition and looks to push the pace often.
While Daniels has a very well-rounded game, it would be a little repetitive next to Tyrese Haliburton and Malcolm Brogdon. Daniels projects to fit the mold of a Lonzo Ball-type player which is not a major need for Indiana. The G-League Ignite product can be unselfish to a fault and lacks the desired pop in his game. Daniels is not a great shot-creator and was not overly willing off the catch-and-shoot. There are plenty of landing sports that Dyson Daniels will surely flourish, but he is not the type of player the Pacers should be targeting.
Shaedon Sharpe- Guard Kentucky
The Pacers are quickly shifting into win-now mode. This greatly changes expectations and makes minutes harder to give to younger players. There may not be a player in need of low-pressure minutes than Shaedon Sharpe. The 19-year-old reclassified to join Kentucky this season but never suited up for a game. The former 2022 number one recruit has intriguing potential but lacks the game minutes necessary to give an accurate outlook. Sharpe has impressive athleticism and size at 6'5″. He is a high-level finisher with great footwork and can make some difficult-looking shots.
If he had taken a more traditional college route, there is a real chance Shaedon Sharpe would be a lock to be a top-five pick. However, this is not the case and the Pacers must judge the player currently in front of them. Even in the limited tape, it is clear the rookie has some work to do. Sharpe must tighten his ball-handling and cut down on turnovers. He also has a tendency to check out on the defensive end. Even in the best of circumstances, it is likely a few years before Sharpe could be a valued contributor. If the Pacers truly believe in his long-term potential this would not be a surprising selection, but this would be a pretty significant roll of the dice.
Taking a more surefire pick would be the better choice for the organization. Indiana has begun to lay the foundation for a solid team and a missed pick could cause some issues. Staying away from these three players as they search for a missing piece is the proper direction for the franchise.
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