With the 26th pick, the Pacers select Ben Sheppard!

In the latter end of the draft you're just taking a swing at whoever you think is the best player. Fact is, Hield & McConnell are old and might be gone in a year or two; Duarte had a major down year. In a year or two he might be part of our bench unit behind our Nembhard/Halliburton/Mathurin hydra.

Pacers Forever · Post #7 » by **Pacers Forever** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 3:06 am

basketballwacko2 wrote:I'm not gonna root against this guy but what the hell do the Pacers need with another guard?

I’m not totally disappointed because he’s a scorer. I can only guess he’s a future replacement for Buddy. I believe he can play small forward.

However my disappointment is I would have thought a bigger forward was more important.

basketballwacko2 · Post #8 » by **basketballwacko2** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 3:06 am

The Pacers needed forwards! Walker great pick.

This guy is not a forward, now we have 1 real forward on the team Yippy Yippy yay!

Unless there are trades in the works this is shaping up like a less horrible version of 2017!!

Pacernation · Post #9 » by **Pacernation** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 3:07 am

Can the dude defend?

8305 · Post #10 » by **8305** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 3:07 am

basketballwacko2 wrote:I'm not gonna root against this guy but what the hell do the Pacers need with another guard?

Long way to training camp. Buddy for more future draft capital seems to me like a logical move.

Tom White · Post #11 » by **Tom White** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 3:08 am

basketballwacko2 wrote:I'm not gonna root against this guy but what the hell do the Pacers need with another guard?

Did you expect for them to draft a front court guy like TJD and make instant fans out of at least half the state?

jarryd3107 · Post #12 » by **jarryd3107** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 3:13 am

basketballwacko2 wrote:I'm not gonna root against this guy but what the hell do the Pacers need with another guard?

At this spot you're drafting potential role players and not potential all-stars. I don't mind it, he's got a different skill set to our other 2s and should be able to complement the team nicely.

jarryd3107 · Post #13 » by **jarryd3107** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 3:14 am

Pacernation wrote:Can the dude defend?

Yeah he's actually a very decent defender. I saw Garrett Temple as his player comp, which would be a huge win at 26.

Post #14 » by **Scoot McGroot** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 3:15 am

Pacernation wrote:Can the dude defend?

Yes. Live body on defense that works hard to keep in front of his guy while keeping his hands free and up to disrupt.

He's 6'5.25" without shoes on. I'd assume he's a solid 6'6.5" with shoes on? He's gonna likely guard 2/3 decently well. He's got a quick shooting stroke from range. He's also got the ability to put the ball on the deck.

basketballwacko2 · Post #15 » by **basketballwacko2** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 3:20 am

Tom White wrote:
basketballwacko2 wrote:I'm not gonna root against this guy but what the hell do the Pacers need with another guard?

Did you expect for them to draft a front court guy like TJD and make instant fans out of at least half the state?

With the 26th pick and a team with no forward depth, they pick another freaking guard! This guy is 6'5''.

I wanted size, TJD was a low risk pick, and Julian Strawther was my other guy. Look at the measurables on those guys. Strawther is off the board on the 29th pick, there was also Brice Sensabaugh if you want a SF,

There'd better be some trades or we're looking like the same mess we were last year.

basketballwacko2 · Post #16 » by **basketballwacko2** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 3:21 am

jarryd3107 wrote:
basketballwacko2 wrote:I'm not gonna root against this guy but what the hell do the Pacers need with another guard?

At this spot you're drafting potential role players and not potential all-stars. I don't mind it, he's got a different skill set to our other 2s and should be able to complement the team nicely.

So you're ok with a team with 8 guards?

basketballwacko2 · Post #17 » by **basketballwacko2** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 3:24 am

The Pacers had a chance to balance the team, they botched it, here we go again more Soloman Hill, Miles Plumlee, more TJ Leaf, more Aaron Holiday, more Goga. Drafting like a donkey in the late part of the draft is why teams end up in the lottery every year.

Topofthekey · Post #18 » by **Topofthekey** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 4:15 am

They found Nembhard last year though. Hopefully Sheppard's like that as well

But Davis would have been an interesting pick

Post #19 » by **Grang33r** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 4:28 am

Pacernation wrote:Can the dude defend?

From the Athletic draft guide-

Smart, sharp defensive player. Took on the toughest assignments for Belmont on the wing this past season. Good anticipation.
Hits passing lanes hard. Solid one-on-one defender. Really sharp on digs. Has great feel for when someone uncomfortable has
the ball and when he can go attack their dribble with a double. Smart rotationally and always on time. Good hands that seem to
be disruptive against ballhandlers.

Post #20 » by **Grang33r** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 4:32 am

jarryd3107 wrote:
Pacernation wrote:Can the dude defend?

Yeah he's actually a very decent defender. I saw Garrett Temple as his player comp, which would be a huge win at 26.

Jarryd, nice to see you back here.

The Ringer draft grade for Sheppard is B-.

Summery by Danny Chau-

The Pacers have loaded up on shooting prospects over the past few seasons, and they keep the train rolling with Sheppard. The senior out of mid-major Belmont had been a popular riser in the predraft process. He is an undeniable shooter off movement, and a high-feel player who makes the right passing reads. Given his maturity and year-over-year development, Sheppard projects to be a plug-and-play option along with Chris Duarte, who had a very similar draft profile two years ago.