With the Draft Lottery complete, the Early Entry List set, and the NBA Draft fast approaching, it's time to examine more in depth some of the players who could be available for the Pacers. Over the next few weeks I'll be trying to put together as many profiles as possible. Instead of identifying players as specific targets for either Pacers' pick, I'm just going to cover a pool of players I think are possibilities. You'll find some players who the Pacers would likely have to trade up or down for. I've also expressed my opinion that the Pacers need to be focused on talent as much as fit so players at all five positions will be included.
These profiles are not intended to advocate for one player over another, just examine their strengths and weaknesses, and discuss in some detail what they have to offer. For each profile I provided Ten Important Statistics to guide the discussion. Today we'll be looking at:
Tristan Thompson - PF - 6'8.75" 227 lbs. - University of Texas
Pts/40 |
Reb/40 |
Ast/40 |
Blk/40 |
eFG% |
FT% |
FTA/40 |
PF/40 |
TO/40 |
USG% |
16.7 |
10.0 |
1.6 |
3.1 |
55.0% |
48.7% |
9.3 |
3.5 |
2.3 |
17.7 |
Current DraftExpress Projection: Round 1, Pick #16
Strengths:
- A little on the short side, but his excellent length and athleticism
- Consistently plays with energy and intensity
- Effective moving without the ball and finishing around the basket
- Strong offensive rebounder
- Good weak-side shot blocker
- Has the quickness to defend perimeter-oriented power forwards
Weaknessess:
- Needs to get stronger, particularly in the lower body, to keep from being pushed around in the post
- Not nearly as effective on the defensive glass, struggles with fundamental positioning and consistent box outs
- Very limited offensively, no post game to speak of, poor shooter from the perimeter and free throw line, needs his teammates to create offensive opportunities for him
- At 20, he's bit older than most college freshman
Impressions:
Hickory High Comparables:
- Josh Boone - 893
- Taj Gibson - 893
- Gani Lawal - 888
- See the rest of Tristan Thompson's comparables at Hickory-High
How he can help the Pacers:
- Thompson has the potential to solve some of the Pacers' problems at power forward, but unfortunately not all of them. He is a good rebounder, although much better on the offensive glass, and an active defender. The downside is that he doesn't offer a lot in terms of scoring. He certainly has potential to develop, but appears likely to be a player who will always rely on others to create scoring opporuntities for him. A rotation of Thompson and Hansbrough, with or without McRoberts, means the Pacers will usually be sacrificing something specific, depending on which player is on the floor. Still, Thompson could fill some holes at power forward that they didn't have a way to plug last season.
Video:
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