2017 NBA Mock Draft, Week 26: The Timberwolves’ young core improves
By Chris Stone
Rodions Kurucs
SF, Barcelona II
Oh, the Indiana Pacers. It wasn’t long ago that the Pacers were pegged as the rising challenger to the dominant Miami Heat squads. Indiana pushed the Heat to seven games in 2013, then six games in 2014, but now the franchise is coming off of a first round sweep with plenty of turmoil surrounding it. Most notably, Larry Bird stepped down and Paul George is rumored to have one foot out the door with plans to join the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. So, where the heck do the Pacers go from here?
One option is to take a flyer on Barcelona’s Rodions Kurucs, a 19-year old wing with some upside as a wing creator. He may not be the most popular pick, but he would fit a need should George bolt in free agency or get traded before his time in Indiana runs out. Kurucs plays in Spain’s second division and he’ll be a bit of a project, but the talent is there. He’s shown he can create offense for himself while playing for his national team in youth competitions. That’s a skill that is prized for wings in the modern NBA. Kurucs has a quick first step, some shake to his dribble and an improving 3-point shot to round out his offense.
On defense, there are some interesting statistical indicators like his 3.5 percent block rate and his 2.0 percent steal rate. At 6-foot-8, he has the length to be a solid defender, but teams might want to see how his skills play out against tougher competition before nailing down their final evaluation.