2016 NBA Mock Draft: Timothe Luwawu Breaks into the Top 10

PF. Gonzaga. Domantas Sabonis. 20. player. 100. <p>The Pacers found a gem in last year’s draft with Myles Turner at center. However, they’ve really missed David West’s rebounding and toughness this year. Domantas Sabonis could be an excellent choice to fill that hole.</p> <p>Few players have been as productive per 40 minutes as Sabonis, who averaged 22.0 points and 14.8 rebounds per 40 this winter. He doesn’t have great length or athleticism, but Sabonis still projects to be a solid scorer and rebounder at the NBA level because of how relentless he is, both in the post and on the glass. Sabonis had a 28.2 percent defensive rebound rate last year, and he clears space extremely well under the basket, throwing his 230-pound frame around and using his masterful footwork to box out and create chances to tip the ball to himself and teammates. Sabonis also has a wide array of solid and skillful post moves, some of which come from his Hall of Fame father. While his length and athleticism will present problems for Sabonis in terms of defensive prowess, Sabonis would have success in the Pacers’ pick-and-roll scheme, which has historically allowed slower bigs like Roy Hibbert and Mahinmi to sag off and anticipate the play while perimeter defenders chase, something Sabonis showed promise with at Gonzaga.</p> <p>Sabonis has the grit to counter Turner’s finesse, and Turner should be able to compensate for Sabonis’s length and shooting issues with his strengths. This could turn out to be an excellent value pick for the Pacers, who appear well equipped to get the most out of Sabonis’s skill set.</p> <p><em>To learn more about Domantas Sabonis, click here.</em></p>