Pacers 2014 pre-draft workout attendees

The Indiana Pacers have known since late July that they would likely only possess a second-round pick in tonight’s NBA Draft (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). They sent this year’s first-round pick to Phoenix along with Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee in exchange for Luis Scola, a guy president Larry Bird has been eyeing for years.

Despite all that, the Pacers’ front office didn’t change their approach over the last 11 months. They simply couldn’t as they must be ready for every scenario.

“There’s guys every year that your second-round picks, or even guys that go undrafted, that end up making the league,” said coach Frank Vogel of their draft positioning. “When you have the 57th pick, you certainly just want to explore all the guys in that range and try to find somebody that has a chance.”

What did change, however, was the talent they brought in for pre-draft workouts held at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Not selecting until No. 57, fourth from last, the Pacers aren’t going to bring in the sure-fire lottery picks or even the high first-round picks. It’s just not worth their time (and money). Same goes for the prospects and their pre-draft demands. Be certain, the Pacers are prepared if an intriguing offer comes.

At 57, the Pacers can’t be too particular. They’ll go after the best available player, or they may select a raw talent and choose to stash him overseas. After all, the draft is so much about potential.

Indiana’s Will Sheehey works out for the Pacers.

“A lot of times in that situation when you’re late in the draft like that, you have guys that you have in mind but there’s always sliders – guys that are probably are either first-round guys, or you projected in the first round or early in the second reason slide down the draft board and they could be available to you,” Vogel said. “Definitely keep your eyes open for guys like that.”

During the workouts, some coaches choose to be hands on while others do not. Vogel opts to do so in order to judge them on a number of things. He took two weeks off after the season ended and missed a couple workouts. After that, he was at every one and was actively involved.

“I like to get out and coach these guys in the workout just to not just watch their listening skills but what the teaching interaction is like,” he said. “I’m definitely very involved.”

Regardless of who the Pacers select, the team believes it takes each player three years to develop and become a key contributor.

The Pacers made just two workouts known and available to the media. Those were on back-to-back days, June 12th and 13th.

The 12 players involved, including two local favorites, were:
Davion Berry
DeAndre Daniels
Will Sheehey
Russ Smith
Xavier Thames
Kendall Williams
Keith Appling
Andre Dawkins
James Michael McAdoo
Jake Odum
Ronald Roberts
Scottie Wilbekin

I’m told the team brought in nearly 50 players in total. The following is an unofficial partial list of other guys that have worked out for the team:
Austin Hollins
Khem Birch
Tarik Black
Taylor Braun
Tyler Stone
Asaugn Dixon-Tatum
Nick Kellogg
Mike Moser
Roscoe Smith
Eric Moreland
David Stockton
Bryce Cotton
Karvel Anderson
Jordan McRae
Lamar Patterson
Jarnell Stokes
Markel Starks

The NBA Draft begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Pacers, unless they elect to move up, won’t be on the clock until after 10 p.m. Follow me on Twitter, @ScottAgness, for complete coverage.