So what do the Pacers need to get them to the playoffs next season? They hope to answer that in the 2011 NBA Draft on June 23rd. Pacers president Larry Bird has said he wants a consistent scorer to help out small forward, Danny Granger. That player will probably end up being a shooting guard, because all the other positions have a solid starter and backup.
There has been a lot of discussion on Jimmer Fredette possibly being selected. To that I say, “NOOOOOO!!!!” Jimmer is so over-rated it’s disgusting. He racked up gaudy numbers against weak competition and everybody praises the ground he walks on. Ever heard of Adam Morrison and J.J. Riddick, or even Steve Alford? They are all shooting guards that posted great numbers in college and did nothing in the NBA. Fredette is also white (like Morrison, Riddick, and Alford), which I think played a huge part in the amount of attention he got.
The big name players that have worked out for the Indiana Pacers include: Jon Deibler, Kyle Singler, Tyler Honeycutt, Jimmy Butler, Jamine Peterson, and Jake Kelly. (Kelly attended Indiana State University, but I think the only guy that is giving the guy a chance is former Sycamore, Larry Bird)
Jon Deibler- 6-6, 205lbs. junior from Ohio State University. Deibler broke the all-time OSU records for career 3-pointers and single-season 3-pointers. He was the best 3-point shooter not in only the Big Ten Conference, but in America. Of his 328 career field goals, only 21% have been 2-pointers. I’d much rather have this guy than Fredette.
Kyle Singler- 6-8, 230lbs. senior forward from Duke University. Anybody from Duke is gonna be at least a decent player. Singler owns the Duke career records for games played, consecutive games played, games started, and minutes played. According to Pacers scouts, Singler is a “highly skilled offensive player with the ability to score on the block or from the perimeter ... one of the top inside-outside threats in the country. As well as fluid athlete with an advanced and well-rounded skill set ... has the ability to lead the team in nearly every statistical category”. Singler is an outstanding player. I never really liked the guy though, and I think a team will have already drafted him before the Pacers have a chance to.
Tyler Honeycutt- 6-8, 188 lbs. sophomore forward from UCLA. Honeycutt averaged 12.8 points per game with a .406 field goal percentage. From espn.com and pacers.com, that’s all I got besides a random compilation of statistics. I have never seen this guy play, so I have no clue if he’s the real deal or not. He’s a forward and the Pacers have plenty of those already, so hopefully we don’t pick him up.
Jimmy Butler- 6-7, 220 lbs. senior guard from Marquette University. Butler received All-Big East honorable mentions last season. He averaged 15.7 points, 2.3 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game. He’s not an outstanding player, but I have seen him play a lot (and beat Notre Dame) and he is an alright player. He may be able to become great, but I don’t think he’s worthy of a first round pick.
Jamine Peterson- 6-6, 230 lbs. sophomore forward from Providence College. Peterson averaged 19.6 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per game. There was talk of him possibly receiving the Big East Play of the Year Award, but come on, the guy plays for Providence. I could be their best player! Unless this guy has some ungodly talent he’s been hiding, the Pacers should stay away from him.
Other possible selections include: Diante Garret (guard, Iowa State), Kenneth Fried (forward, Morehead State), Andrew Goudelock (guard, Charleston), Charles Jenkins (guard, Hofstra), Trey Thompkins (forward, Georgia), Nikola Vucevic (forward, USC), and Rick Jackson (forward, Syracuse).
It’s interesting to me that local players JaJuan Johnson (Purdue) and Shelvin Mack (Butler) are considered possible first round draft picks, but are not even being looked at by the Pacers.
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