2018 NBA Mock Draft: Where do Doncic, Ayton and Bagley land?

With veterans producing across the roster and shockingly little young talent to take the reigns, this draft is quietly important for Indiana. They need to improve this team to make it into a real championship contender, but they were too good this season to nab a top pick. Shamet gives them decent odds to do so.

Physically, he profiles as one of the better guard prospects in the draft. He reportedly has a 7-0 wingspan, giving him the ability to switch and cross-match defensively and take the Pacers’ defense to another level. A backcourt featuring both he and Victor Oladipo could lead the league in steals. No gap would be unguarded.

As Oladipo starts to run the offense more, Indiana will need a spot-up shooter in the spot opposite his. Shamet was probably the best shooting point guard outside Trae Young in college basketball this year, considering the difficulty of his shots, the volume at which he took them, and his overall efficiency. Late in games, Shamet jumpers were the crux of Wichita State’s offense, especially when their interior scoring was hampered.

Darren Collison is under contract for one more season, and that lines up perfectly with one season for Shamet to develop before potentially being a starter in his age-24 season. It’s a solid bet on fit.