Pacers executives and scouts look on during a pre-draft workout.
The 2016 NBA Draft will be held Thursday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. ESPN has the live television broadcasting rights and their coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. ET. [Available online here.]
But, for the first time, they’ll have real competition.
Adrian Wojnarowski’s crew over on The Vertical will have an online broadcast which is led by Woj, the league’s top reporter, and company. Indiana coach Tom Crean will provide insight from their New York studios with Chris Mannix. That will be worth a third screen. (Twitter is second, obviously.)
The Philadelphia 76ers hold the first pick and have reportedly told Ben Simmons that he’s their guy. The Los Angeles Lakers have done the same with Brandon Ingram.
That’s when things get interesting. Brad Stevens’ Celtics hold the No. 3 pick (via Brooklyn), plus picks 16, 23, 31, 35, 45, 51, 58. That’s eight picks in a draft with 60 selections.
[Q&A with Pacers Director of Scouting Ryan Carr — on prep work, workouts, and draft night]
Ryan Carr (black) talks with the Pacers’ coaching staff following a workout.
The Pacers did well for themselves at last year’s draft, jumping at the chance to take Myles Turner at 11 and then Joe Young at 43. They would later trade a second-round pick to Cleveland for Rakeem Christmas, the 36th overall pick.
Over the last month and a half, the Pacers held seven official pre-draft workouts with 42 players in total. It was heavy on second-round picks with handful of guys that should be around about two hours into the draft, at No. 20. VigilantSports.com has video interviews with the key guys, 19 in all.
On the eve of the draft, Indiana traded for its point guard, sending George Hill to Utah in exchange for Atlanta’s Jeff Teague — part of a three-team deal. It won’t be made official until July.
Needs: Armed with their of the future, the Pacers’ positions of need are power forward and shooting guard.
Pacers breaks it down following a workout with six draft prospects.
They have 11 guys under contract for the 2016-17 season, nine with guaranteed deals, and four free agents: Ian Mahinmi, Solomon Hill, Jordan Hill, and Ty Lawson.
I will be in the media room at Bankers Life Fieldhouse for draft coverage Thursday night. We expect to hear from Pacers President Larry Bird after each pick, and hopefully head coach Nate McMillan at the end of the night.
[Pacers Podcast: Nate McMillan]
Below is a look at the Pacers’ recent drafts, plus a look at what teams have been able to do at picks 20 and 50, respectively.
Last Four Pacers Drafts:
2015: Myles Turner (11), Joe Young (43)
2014: Traded second-round pick (57) to New York for cash
2013: Solomon Hill (23), Traded second-round pick for cash
2012: Miles Plumlee (26)
History of No. 20:
- 2015: Delon Wright, Utah – Toronto Raptors
- 2014: Bruno Caboclo, Brazil – Toronto Raptors
- 2013: Tony Snell, New Mexico – Chicago Bulls
- 2012: Evan Fournier, France – Denver Nuggets
- 2011: Donatas Motiejunas, Lithuania – Minnesota Timberwolves
- 2010: James Anderson, Oklahoma State – San Antonio Spurs
- 2009: Eric Maynor, Virginia Commonwealth – Utah Jazz
- 2008: Alexis Ajinca, France – Charlotte Bobcats
- 2007: Jason Smith, Colorado State – Philadelphia 76ers
- 2006: Renaldo Balkman, Phoenix – New York Knicks
- 2005: Julius Hodge, North Carolina State – Denver Nuggets
- 2004: Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph’s – Denver Nuggets
- 2003: Dahntay Jones, Duke – Boston Celtics
- 2002: Kareem Rush, Missouri – Toronto Raptors
- 2001: Brendan Haywood, North Carolina – Cleveland Cavaliers
Notable: 1996: Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Lithuania – Cleveland Cavaliers; 1992: Hubert Davis, North Carolina – New York Knicks
History of No. 50:
- 2015: Marcus Eriksson, FC Barcelona – Atlanta Hawks
- 2014: Alec Brown, Wisconsin Green Bay – Phoenix Suns
- 2013: James Ennis, Cal State Long Beach – Miami HEAT
- 2012: Izzet Turkyilamaz, Turkey – Denver Nuggets
- 2011: Lavoy Allen, Temple University – Philadelphia 76ers
Notable: 1988: Steve Kerr, University of Arizona – Phoenix Suns