Indiana Pacers: 3 perfect combinations for their 3 1st-round picks

2. Taylor Hendricks, Dariq Whitehead, Brice Sensabaugh

The Pacers grab Taylor Hendricks in the No. 7 spot, arguably the season’s biggest pre-draft riser. Hendricks began his freshman year at UCF mostly off the radar, but he quickly caught the attention of scouts with his defensive playmaking and buttery 3-point shot.

The bulk of the pre-draft conversation with Indiana has centered on their need for a proper power forward to share the frontcourt with Myles Turner. Hendricks checks that box. He doesn’t offer much upside as a self-creator, but he’s already an elite spot-up shooter and a bouncy lob threat who will make himself available to finish plays. On the defensive end, he’s going to block shots from the weak side and he’s capable of switching 1-4. He’d have a lot of freedom to roam and cause problems with Turner looming in the paint.

And here’s the thing about Dariq Whitehead: he’s on the same level as Hendricks as a prospect. He might tumble to the 26-29 range due to injury concerns after undergoing his second foot surgery of the year. The Pacers have three picks and can afford to gamble on a 6-foot-7 wing who shot 42 percent from 3 at Duke and who, prior to the injury, looked like one of the most complete offensive players in his class.

Brice Sensabaugh offers a few interesting parallels to Whitehead, only he’s a less promising athlete with a far more productive college résumé. Sensabaugh was the best freshman scorer in college basketball. He’s an electric shot-maker who needs very little room to stick a jumper in his defender’s face. There are significant defensive concerns and Sensabaugh didn’t show much inclination to create for others at Ohio State, but he will rope 3s and get buckets. The Pacers could use another self-creation boost beyond Halliburton and Mathurin.