NBA Draft 2018: 5 targets for the Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers exceeded even the most optimistic of expectations last season. They’ll need to hit on this year’s draft pick to do it again next year.

Victor Oladipo led the Indiana Pacers to one of the most surprising seasons in the NBA last year. Unfortunately, the team racked up too many wins to secure a high draft pick. That means Kevin Pritchard and company will have to work hard to find an impact player with the No. 23 selection.

The good news, of course, is that the Pacers have a pretty stable roster heading into the 2018-19 season. Oladipo has emerged as a star and should lead the team for years to come. Myles Turner isn’t a perfect big man, but he’s a safe bet to start at center for the foreseeable future. Bojan Bogdanovic emerged as a terrific scorer at the small forward position.

Up until today, the Pacers could have comfortably penciled Thaddeus Young in as the team’s starting forward next season. The news that he could decline his player option will shoot the power forward position up the team’s list of priorities. Unfortunately, the draft board doesn’t project line up perfectly with that need.

The point guard position could also use some attention. Darren Collison is a solid enough starter, but he’s already 30-years-old. It’s highly unlikely his performance is going to improve over the next few seasons. Cory Joseph is a solid backup, but he’s not a perfect fit next to Oladipo either. The team could certainly secure a long-term upgrade at the one.

The right strategy for the Pacers on draft night will be to select the best player available. Zeroing in on need might cause them to pick a player who isn’t capable of making a real impact next season. With that being said, these five players will be high on Indiana’s list when their selection comes up.