2023 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Arkansas guards, SEC prominent in lottery
Ausar Thompson. 4. player. 100. . G, United States. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers luck into a top-4 pick and get to complement the impressive duo of Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner with one of the draft’s most exciting athletes. Ausar Thompson has been out of the spotlight playing in Atlanta’s Overtime Elite league, but do not be fooled by the absence of national television appearances — he’s going to be very good very quickly.
Thompson profiles as the perfect backcourt partner for Haliburton. He brings size (6-foot-7) and elite defensive versatility. Thompson gets after it on defense, using his springboard athleticism to break up passing lanes or to lock all windows and doors on his man. The Pacers currently lack that perimeter stopper.
On the offensive end, Thompson provides Indiana with another high-level processor and playmaker. Thompson sees the game unfold at light speed, a rare trait for a 20-year-old without college or high-level professional experience. He’s great at kickstarting transition opportunities with hit-ahead passes off the rebound. In the halfcourt, he can operate out of pick-and-rolls or thrive off cuts and as a connective passer.
Thompson’s big red flag is his inconsistency from 3-point land. The Pacers have enough shooting to cover for him in the meantime, but Thompson does have to work hard to become a reliable spot-up shooter — especially if he’s going to maximize his partnership with a point guard like Haliburton. But, assuming Thompson can shoot respectably from deep, he would be primed for success in Indiana.