Following the NBA Draft lottery, the Indiana Pacers find themselves with the seventh overall pick. Leading up to the draft, they have their sights set on moving up to grab one of the top prospects in the class.
Recent reports have come out that the Pacers are expected to be very active on draft night. With three first-round picks at their disposal, they might try to make a play at Brandon Miller out of Alabama.
“The Indiana Pacers have three picks (Nos. 7, 26 and 29) and are expected to be active on draft night, and looking to move up,” Barlow wrote. “Indiana is believed to be the team most interested in making a deal to select Brandon Miller, but it is unknown at this point who they’re willing to give up in addition to the No. 7 pick in a deal with Charlotte or Portland.”
NBA DRAFT NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Brandon Miller & Indiana Pacers Updates
Of all the prospects in the 2023 class, Brandon Miller is expected to be one of the top three-and-D wings. Standing at 6-foot-9, he is the exact archetype of player that all teams want. In 37 games for Alabama this year, Miller posted averages of 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. He also shot 38.4% from beyond the arc on over seven attempts per game.
From a fit perspective, Miller makes a lot of sense for the Pacers. They already have their guards of the future in Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin. Now, they need a wing who can play alongside them.
NBA DRAFT NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Brandon Miller & Indiana Pacers Updates
As a three-and-D wing, Miller will be an easy piece to slide in next to Indiana’s young core. His skillset allows him to play with anyone, and having a playmaker like Haliburton could make life easy for him at the next level.
It might take parting ways with multiple assets to move up, but if the Pacers can pull this off, it will be a big step forward in their rebuild.
Want the latest in NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
