NBA Draft 2011: Jimmer Fredette and the 10 Best Fits for the Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers surprised many by giving the Chicago Bulls a very competitive series in the 2011 NBA Playoffs.
Using an array of over achieving, and hard working players, the Pacers pieced together a scrappy bunch in 2010.
Heading into the 2011 NBA Draft, the Pacers hold the 15th overall selection.
Hoping to address scoring in the backcourt and the frontcourt, the Pacers will have many options mid-way through the first round.
Here are the ten best fits for the Indiana Pacers:
Malcolm Lee, G, UCLA
1 of 10
Malcolm Lee would fill an immediate need for the Pacers.
While he may not be the scorer the Pacers desperately need, he has the potential to improve on his offensive skill set.
However, on the defensive end, Lee is an ace. He can defend on the ball and off the ball, and uses his length extremely well to disrupt the offensive flow of the opposition.
The Pacers need athleticism in the backcourt, and with Lee's ceiling still not reached, he could add a scoring punch down the road.
If nothing else, Lee will be a great defender from Day One.
Klay Thomspon, G, Washington State
2 of 10
If the Indiana Pacers want to add a scoring punch, Klay Thompson would make sense.
A dead-eye shooter, Thompson could have a Kyle Korver-type impact at the next level.
Thompson has great range, and while he may lack the athleticism necessary to be a take over scorer at the next level, his range makes him a threat at all times.
Improvements on his passing game, and his ability to create his own shot, have made Thompson look even better in the eyes of NBA scouts.
The Pacers really need a scorer to stretch the floor, and Thompson could do that fairly quickly.
Marcus Morris, F, Kansas
3 of 10
Marcus Morris could add to the frontcourt of Roy Hibbert, Tyler Hansbrough, and Jeff Foster right away for the Pacers.
Morris can affect the game on both ends of the floor, but his versatility is what makes him dangerous.
He can knock down open jumpshots, and also has a great turnaround game from mid-range.
He is a capable defender and comes from a great college program that taught him to be a leader and an unselfish player.
Morris comes with little risk. The Pacers know what they are getting if they decide to go with Marcus Morris. He may not have the high ceiling of some of the other forwards, but Morris could be a contributor sooner rather than later.
Kenneth Faried, F, Morehead State
4 of 10
Kenneth Faried comes to the NBA as the all-time leading rebounder in NCAA history.
He may not be as offensively skilled as a Marcus Morris, but Faried's high motor and nose for the ball have him poised to be a contributor early on.
Drawing comparisons to Ben Wallace, Faried could be a game changer on the defensive end of the floor and on the glass.
If the Pacers take Faried they would be taking a chance on a high-energy player the same way they did with Tyler Hansbrough in 2009. If it pays off, it would allow Roy Hibbert to focus on the offensive end, and make the Pacers much tougher defensively.
Nolan Smith, G, Duke
5 of 10
The Indiana Pacers need to address their backup guards on the bench, and Nolan Smith would be the perfect fit for that role.
Smith is the consummate leader, and comes into the NBA as a winner.
He may not be the most athletic guard, but Smith has good enough range and works hard enough to be a contributor very early for an NBA team.
Smith could wind up being a vital glue guy for an NBA playoff caliber team.
Will the Pacers be that team?
Marshon Brooks, G, Providence
6 of 10
Marshon Brooks was a do-it-all scorer in 2010 with the Providence Friars.
Averaging 24.6 points per game, Brooks is a capable and sometimes electric scorer.
He struggles with passing the ball and seeing the floor, but Brooks is a deadly scorer the second he touches the ball.
The Indiana Pacers have a major need for scoring guards. Brooks fits the bill, and could bring instant offense off the bench very early for Indiana.
Jajuan Johnson, F, Purdue
7 of 10
Jajuan Johnson was the best player in the Big Ten in 2010.
Despite his slight frame, Johnson can score from inside or outside, and is also a very good shot blocker on defense.
He could be a stretch player for the Pacers on offense with his ability to score from many areas.
Johnson is a consistent player across the board. Keeping him in Indiana would be a good idea for the Pacers.
Jordan Hamilton, G/F, Texas
8 of 10
Jordan Hamilton is another big guy who can flat out score the basketball.
Hamilton is a lanky 6'7'', and can do damage from the outside or the inside.
In the NBA, I think he projects more as a shooting guard but no matter where he ends up, Hamilton will score.
Once again, the Pacers have a major need for a scorer who can create from the perimeter. Hamilton fits the bill.
Justin Harper, F, Richmond
9 of 10
Outside of Jimmer Fredette, Justin Harper may be the best shooter in the 2011 NBA Draft class.
Harper shot almost 45 percent from three-point land in 2010, and that range should transfer over to the next level.
If the Pacers want scoring, Harper is a serious candidate, though some may argue drafting Harper would be overdrafting for the Pacers at 15.
Harper does need to mature physically, and work on his all-around game, but he could contribute as a shooter immediately.
Jimmer Fredette, G, Brigham Young
10 of 10
With scoring being the theme in Indiana, Jimmer Fredette is an obvious candidate to give 15th overall if not earlier.
Fredette lit up opposing defenses in all possible ways, and took home the Naismith Award at the end of the season.
Fredette's athleticism is debatable, with some questioning his speed and his ability to defend in the NBA.
However, Fredette's range and knowledge of how to score are not debatable, and will make Fredette a player to pay attention to wherever he may end up.
The Pacers hope to see Jimmer make it past the Utah Jazz at No. 12.
If he does, you can bet Jimmer will be in Indiana.
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