Indiana Pacers, Chris Duarte (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
Heading into the 2021 NBA Draft, Indiana Pacers fans had lofty expectations for the team, especially with the Blue and Gold managing to secure a lottery pick for the first time in quite a while. Not only that, but the well-documented depth and all-around talent of the rookie class gave the franchise a lot of leeway in selecting a prospect who can surge into the team spotlight for years to come.
With the team’s proclivity and explicit demand to maximize their core and win in the present, a similar win-now selection makes sense.