2022 NBA Mock Draft: Detroit Pistons drop to 5th pick
NBA Mock Draft: Pick #3
100. Scouting Report. Guard. Jaden Ivey. player. Pick Analysis. Purdue / Indiana Pacers. 3
The Indiana Pacers jump up two spots and leapfrog the Detroit Pistons in this mock draft, giving them the third pick.
I have a feeling the top-3 may not go to scratch and if the Pacers were to jump over the Detroit Pistons, they could go against conventional wisdom and take Jaden Ivey here.
On paper, this might not make sense, as they already have four good guards in Tyrese Haliburton, Malcolm Brogdon, Buddy Hield and Chris Duarte.
But the temptation to pair Haliburton with a young, dynamic two-guard will be too much, especially when Ivey is from Indiana and played his college basketball with Purdue.
The Pacers, much like the Detroit Pistons, are not a team that generally draws many free agents, so getting a local guy who wants to be there will matter. I think if Indiana jumps up, they’ll take Ivey.