NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Picks for the entire first round
. Wing. Indiana Pacers. Shaedon Sharpe. 6. player. 100
The Indiana Pacers have their point guard of the future in Tyrese Haliburton, and are probably set at center with Myles Turner. Everything in between is on the table for a youth reset, and veterans like TJ Warren and Malcolm Brogdon may move on during this rebuild. That puts the Pacers in the catbird seat with plenty of options available.
They would probably love Keegan Murray to fall to sixth, but if he goes early then the Pacers can’t go wrong adding any of the available wings. Shaedon Sharpe offers the highest upside, and given the Pacers tend not to fall this low very often it makes sense to swing for the fences. If Sharpe hit he’s a superstar.
Bennedict Mathurin. 7. player. 34. . Wing / Forward. Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers hope to leap right back into contention around Damian Lillard, and the late-season success they saw from their young pieces only further encourages them towards that outcome. They probably are going to go away from their usual draft policy of taking toolsy projects and instead add a player who can fit in now on a competing team.
Bennedict Mathurin fits the bill perfectly, a player who will be 3-and-D at the very least and could develop over time into a tertiary shot creator alongside Lillard and Anfernee Simons. The Blazers also have the team culture to get Mathurin fully bought in on defense; he may struggle on a losing team to lock in.