In reflection of modern NBA, Pacers focused on perimeter in draft workouts

By foxsports
Published

To those who bemoan the lack of "true" centers in today's NBA: We apologize, because you're not going to like where the Indiana Pacers have been focusing in their most recent pre-draft workouts.

But the facts are the facts. And the fact of the matter is that this is a guard-driven league. Exhibit A is the MVP, a guy who plays in Oakland that you've probably heard of.

The Pacers have a pretty good guard in George Hill, but the depth on the perimeter in Indiana leaves one wanting after that. The departure of Lance Stephenson didn't help, of course, although "Born Ready" didn't exactly have the greatest season in Charlotte. But the less-than-stellar play that at times plagued the Pacers comes through in the numbers. Indiana shot just above league average on 3-pointers in 2014-15, which simply isn't enough to make a team a true contender under today's rules and approach to the game. Even then, the Pacers shot a below-average percentage of their total field goal attempts from behind the arc.

Add it all up, and it makes sense that Indiana would be looking for a little help at the guard positions, Pacers.com Wheat Hotchkiss writes:

"Five of the six prospects [at Indiana's Thursday workouts] are either 6-5 or 6-6, with Louisville point guard Terry Rozier measuring out at 6-2. Rozier and Kentucky's Andrew Harrison are projected to run the point in the NBA, while the other four prospects (Nebraska's Terran Petteway, North Carolina's J.P. Tokoto, UNLV's Rashad Vaughn, and Maryland's Dez Wells) are hoping to carve out a niche for themselves on the wing."

It's hard to see the Pacers drafting any player who doesn't rate out as someone who can help them on defense, but that's just one part of the package Indiana should have in mind. The "3&D" player (one who can shoot 3-pointers and defend multiple positions) has become something of a cliche in basketball parlance, but that's with good reason. It's a valuable skill set, and it's what the Pacers have investigated so far.

(h/t Pacers.com)

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