Mocking the Mock: 5 worst and most interesting fits from ESPN’s latest NBA Mock Draft

Best fit: DaRon Holmes II to the Pacers at No. 56

Let's finish with a deep cut. The Indiana Pacers select DaRon Holmes, our No. 12 prospect, at No. 56 in ESPN's mock draft. That is an absurd value pick. Even if Holmes wasn't the greatest on-court fit, Indiana would emerge from draft night a huge winner for stumbling into lottery value at the back end of the second round.

That said, Holmes is also a tremendous fit in Indiana. The Pacers already have their starting frontcourt in Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam. Obi Toppin receives significant minutes off the bench, and it's only a matter of time until Jarace Walker is a dude. But, even with a complicated path to minutes — at least early on — it's hard to imagine a better landing spot for Holmes.

Why? It's pretty obvious. Tyrese Haliburton. He makes life easier on all his teammates, but the Pacers would benefit a ton from placing a dynamic offensive big like Holmes next to their All-Star point guard. Holmes is a springboard athlete at 6-foot-10. He would offer Haliburton another vertical threat at the rim. But, Holmes is also a 36.9 percent 3-point shooter on encouraging volume — 2.6 attempts per game. He can trail and hit transition 3s, or run pick-and-pops with Haliburton. There are enough similarities to Myles Turner to really get the Indy front office excited.

Those similarities translate to the defensive end, too. Holmes has been one of college basketball's top rim protectors for the last three years. He's a two-time Atlantic 10 All-Defense honoree, well on his way to the three-peat. He's averaging 2.2 blocks, offering tremendous mobility and instincts in the painted area. He checks too many boxes to fall this far, but if he does — and the ESPN gurus are plugged into how NBA teams think — Indiana has a chance to come away with the steal of the draft.