Predicting the Indiana Pacers 1st round NBA draft pick
Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) and Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) watch a shot during the second half of the 2015 NCAA Men
Who’s Available at #11?
I bring this up, as ESPN’s Chad Ford has a recent mock draft with the Pacers selecting Willie Cauley-Stein out of Kentucky. Though Cauley-Stein would seem like a great replacement for Roy Hibbert (whose days are numbered in Indiana beyond this year). However, Willie Trill hasn’t come in for a workout for the Pacers. Larry Bird apparently interviewed him at the draft combine, but even with his talent and athleticism, selecting a player who has not worked out for the team is not a trend the Pacers have followed.
Honestly, I don’t see Cauley-Stein even falling to #11, so let’s focus look at the players the Pacers have worked out, that could be considered 11th overall:
Frank Kaminsky PF-C, Wisconsin
Cameron Payne PG, Murray State
Most mock drafts are on Cameron Payne out of Murray State. The pick makes sense, as I still think the Pacers are in search of a point guard that will allow George Hill to slide to the two guard spot at times. I just don’t think he’s the pick because so many mocks have him as the pick, and Larry Bird doesn’t show his hand.
This also would make me eliminate Myles Turner. He’s projected in quite a few mocks, and I also think he’s a little too raw of a player for Bird’s liking. He has the potential of being a nice rim protector, and perhaps stretching the floor on the offensive end, but I don’t see him being the Pacers pick.