The 2021 NBA Draft is approaching quickly (July 29th) and it is not something the Pacers can just hide from and keep moving forward.
If the Pacers keep and use their pick at number 13 there will be a lot of eyes monitoring that player’s performance/journey as long as he is playing in Indiana. It just has to work out for both parties or there will be no party.
The reason the Pacers 2021 NBA Draft pick is a must hit is because their 1st round pick history has not been the most consistent..
2001 – No 1st round pick
2002 – Round 1, Pick 14 – Fred Jones
- Position: Guard
- Height: 6’4″
- Weight: 210
- College: Oregon
- Years Played in the NBA: 7 Years (4 years with the Pacers) (Played for 5 different teams in his career)
- Career PPG: 7.5
- Won the 2004 Slam Dunk Contest
2003 – No 1st round pick
2004 – Round 1, Pick 29 – David Harrison
- Position: Center
- Height: 7’0″
- Weight: 254
- College: Colorado
- Years Played in the NBA: 4 Years (4 years with the Pacers) (Played for 1 team in his career)
- Career PPG: 5
2005 – Round 1, Pick 17 – Danny Granger
- Position: Guard/Forward
- Height: 6’9″
- Weight: 222
- College: New Mexico
- Years Played in the NBA: 10 Years (8.5 years with the Pacers) (Played for 3 different teams in his career)
- Career PPG: 16.8
- Made 1 All-Star appearance
2006 – Round 1, Pick 17 – Shawne Williams
- Position: Forward
- Height: 6’10”
- Weight: 230
- College: Memphis
- Years Played in the NBA: 7 Years (2 years with the Pacers) (Played for 7 different teams in his career)
- Career PPG: 5.6
2007 – No 1st round pick
2008 – Round 1, Pick 11 – Jerryd Bayless
- Position: Guard
- Height: 6’3″
- Weight: 210
- College: Arizona
- Years Played in the NBA: 11 Years (0 years with the Pacers) (Played for 8 different teams in his career)
- Career PPG: 8.4
- Jerryd Bayless was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 11th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft. He was subsequently traded by Indiana with Ike Diogu to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jarrett Jack, Josh McRoberts and Brandon Rush.
2009 – Round 1, Pick 13 – Tyler Hansbrough
- Position: Power Forward
- Height: 6’9″
- Weight: 250
- College: North Carolina
- Years Played in the NBA: 7 Years (4 years with the Pacers) (Played for 3 different teams in his career)
- Career PPG: 6.7
2010 – Round 1, Pick 10 – Paul George
- Position: Guard/Forward
- Height: 6’9″
- Weight: 220
- College: Fresno State
- College: North Carolina
- Years Played in the NBA: 11 Years and still playing (7 years with the Pacers) (Played for 3 different teams in his career)
- Career PPG: 20.2
- We also drafted Lance Stephenson this year (Round 2, Pick 40)
- Has made 7 All-Star appearance
2011 – Round 1, Pick 15 – Kawhi Leonard
- Position: Forward
- Height: 6’7″
- Weight: 230
- College: San Diego State
- Years Played in the NBA: 10 Years and still playing (0 years with the Pacers) (Played for 3 different teams in his career)
- Career PPG: 19.2
- The Indiana Pacers traded Kawhi Leonard the 15th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft on June 23, 2011. That pick will always be remembered as the time the Pacers traded for George Hill from the San Antonio Spurs for the 15th overall pick, which was Kawhi Leonard. George Hill has played 13 Years and is still playing, played 5 years with the Pacers, played for 8 different teams in his career, and avg. 11 PPG in his career so far.
- Has made 5 All-Star appearance
2012 – Round 1, Pick 26 – Miles Plumlee
- Position: Center
- Height: 6’11”
- Weight: 249
- College: Duke
- Years Played in the NBA: 7 Years (1 years with the Pacers) (Played for 5 different teams in his career)
- Career PPG: 4.9
2013 – Round 1, Pick 23 – Solomon Hill
- Position: Shooting Forward
- Height: 6’6″
- Weight: 226
- College: Arizona
- Years Played in the NBA: 8 Years and still playing (3 years with the Pacers) (Played for 5 different teams in his career)
- Career PPG: 5.6
2014 – No 1st round pick
2015 – Round 1, Pick 11 – Myles Turner
- Position: Forward/Center
- Height: 6’11”
- Weight: 250
- College: Texas
- Years Played in the NBA: 6 Years and still playing (6 years with the Pacers) (Played for 1 team in his career)
- Career PPG: 12.7
- Will Myles be traded before the 2021-2022 season?
2016 – Round 1, Pick 20 Caris LeVert
- Position: Guard
- Height: 6’6″
- Weight: 205
- College: Michigan
- Years Played in the NBA: 5 Years and still playing (5 years with the Pacers) (Played for 2 different teams in his career)
- Career PPG: 14.1
- LeVert was the 20th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Pacers and immediately traded to the Brooklyn Nets for Thad Young who has played 14 Years and is still playing, played 3 years with the Pacers, played for 5 different teams in his career, and avg. 13.1 PPG in his career so far.
- LeVert was traded back to the pacers last year and also received a 2023 second-round pick from Houston as Olidipo left the building. There was additional movement with other teams as well.
2017 – Round 1, Pick 18 – T.J. Leaf
- Position: Power Forward
- Height: 6’10”
- Weight: 225
- College: UCLA
- Years Played in the NBA: 4 Years and still playing (3 years with the Pacers) (Played for 2 different teams in his career)
- Career PPG: 3.3
2018 – Round 1, Pick 23 – Aaron Holiday
- Position: Point Guard
- Height: 6’1″
- Weight: 185
- College: UCLA
- Years Played in the NBA: 3 Years and still playing (3 years with the Pacers) (Played for 1 team in his career)
- Career PPG: 7.7
2019 – Round 1, Pick 18 – Goga Bitadze
- Position: Center
- Height: 6’11”
- Weight: 245
- Country: Serbia
- Years Played in the NBA: 2 Years and still playing (2 years with the Pacers) (Played for 1 team in his career)
- Career PPG: 4.1
2020 – No 1st round pick
