Pacers Making No. 7 Pick Available in Search for Wing

June 18, 2023

The Pacers are making it clear they will part with their No. 7 overall pick in Thursday’s draft for help at the wing spots, per Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report/TNT.

Indiana owns five picks in the draft overall. Along with the No. 7 pick, the Pacers also have the Nos. 26, 29, 32 and 55 selections.

While it’s not been determined who the Pacers are seeking specifically, they previously explored trades involving Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter for shooting guard Chris Duarte and draft capital, and Raptors forward OG Anunoby, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

In the event the Pacers keep their lottery pick, they’re said to be seeking the same type of player they’re looking for in a trade — a shooting guard or small forward.

“They’re looking at guards. They’re looking at wings. They’re looking at forwards,” ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony said on a conference call with reporters. “I think that they’re at the stage of their rebuilding right now where they can go in a lot of different directions. I don’t think they’re going to be hamstrung by position. Knowing (Pacers president Kevin Pritchard) for a while now, he’s always been a guy who is focused on talent.

“He wants to make sure that five years from now he’s coming away with the best player he can in this draft. Rosters change. Guys come. Guys go, but, like, you want to make sure that you’re getting the best player possible.”

Sources have told Hoops Wire the Pacers are unlikely to keep all five picks and bring five rookies to training camp.

“I’d be stunned if they walked away with five picks the night of the draft,” added ESPN’s Bobby Marks on the call. “You look at where their roster is. They really only have three free agents with (Oshae Brissett), (James Johnson) and George Hill. It’s the quality over quantity, which is what they’re looking at.”