2017 NBA Mock Draft, Week 23: The NBA Playoffs are upon us
By Chris Stone
John Collins
PF, Wake Forest
The Indiana Pacers are in the Eastern Conference playoffs as the No. 7 seed, setting up a classic meeting between Paul George and LeBron James. Although it’s likely that Indiana will be sent packing early, the Pacers should be in position to land a player in the middle of the first round who can help improve their rotation as they await word on George’s future.
Wake Forest’s John Collins was one of the most improved players in college basketball this season. As a sophomore he averaged 28.8 points and 14.8 rebounds per 40 minutes on a Russell Westbrook-like 30.4 percent usage rate and a 67.2 true shooting percentage. Collins dominated on the interior, scoring frequently from the low block, but also possesses a nice pick-and-roll game that figures to be the focal point of his offensive attack in the NBA.
Defensively, there are some real concerns because Collins doesn’t have great length and often lacks the awareness to make a significant impact. His most likely outcome seems to be as a rotation who can lead a second unit offense. That should still be worth the Pacers’ first rounder here.