2021 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Detroit Pistons land the draft’s biggest prize

If you assume that health and a coaching change will fix much of what ailed the Pacers this past season, you’re looking at a playoff roster without a ton of holes. The only obvious opening is the potential departure of T.J. McConnell, who was a huge difference-maker as the second-unit point guard. Cooper would present a completely different look there — he’s nowhere near the defensive pest that McConnel is. But what he offers at the other end is perhaps far more valuable.

Cooper is an elite ball-handler who is impossible to keep out of the lane and his high-level passing creates a slew of open and unexpected shots for his teammates. His potential as a facilitator is sky-high. His upside is limited by his defensive potential and his shaky shooting at this point, although as Brian Schroeder pointed out, “he’s obviously never had to shoot jumpers until now,” because no one could keep him out of the paint. However, Cooper measured a little bigger than expected at the combine — 6-foot-4.75 with shoes on — which may ease some of the size-related defensive concerns. And on the Pacers, with so many other scorers and shooters, he can focus on facilitating with the second unit and slowly let his own scoring and shooting abilities develop.