NBA Draft: Grades for all 15 teams in the Eastern Conference

Eastern Conference NBA Draft Grades: Indiana Pacers

Picks: Bennedict Mathurin, Wing, Arizona (6); Andrew Nembhard, Guard, Gonzaga (31); Kendall Brown, Forward, Baylor (48)

The Indiana Pacers have taken a surprising turn in their franchise’s life cycle, stripping the roster of veterans to embrace a full rebuild. At the trade deadline, they moved Domantas Sabonis and Caris LeVert, and then at the draft

Bennedict Mathurin out of Arizona was the pick at No. 6, a player who took a huge step forward in his second season and then dominated the pre-draft circuit and became a hot name who was rumored to go as high as four. Framed in that way it’s great value for the Pacers at 6, and Mathurin is an excellent fit alongside Tyrese Haliburton in a long, two-way backcourt that can both shoot. It’s a solid foundation for the next chapter of Indiana basketball.

They went back to bolstering the backcourt with the first pick of the second round, the pick they added in the Caris LeVert trade. Nembhard has excellent size as a point guard and has great passing and decision-making who should stick in the league for a long time. Adding Nembhard probably suggests that either Malcolm Brogdon, TJ McConnell or both will be on the move. The value is solid.

Finally, the Pacers traded into the 48th pick to take one of the draft’s biggest fallers, the hyper-athletic Kendall Brown out of Baylor. He needs some skill development but his athleticism is insane, and he can influence both ends of the court with vertical spacing and lockdown defense. He needs to develop a constant motor and his shot is basically nonexistent, but this is incredible value for the Pacers.

Grade: B+