Pacers mock draft roundup: What will Indiana Pacers do with 2025 NBA draft picks?
The Indiana Pacers have secured a spot in the NBA playoffs with a few games remaining in the 2024-25 regular season.
With a week left, the Pacers are in the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference. While the playoffs need to happen first, who could be headed to Indiana in the draft this year?
Advertisement
Here are some options:
Who will the Pacers pick in the first round of the 2025 NBA draft?
Bryan Kalbrosky, For The Win
23) Danny Wolf, Michigan, center: Michigan's Danny Wolf is a do-it-all big man who has averaged 13.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game this season. Wolf had the most assists (132) of any college player who is 6-foot-10 or taller, per CBB Analytics. The big man is an incredibly gifted and skilled playmaker considering his height.
Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report
22) Thomas Sorber, Georgetown, center: A foot injury on a big guy will draw extra attention during predraft and medical reviews. Teams will be hopeful to watch Thomas Sorber work out, since he hasn't played since February 15 and was often kept in check against ranked or NCAA tournament teams.
Advertisement
His finishing tools, post skill and passing were noticeably advanced throughout the season. He was disruptive defensively (2.0 blocks, 1.5 steals) and despite poor jump-shooting percentages, the confidence/comfort he showed to keep taking mid-range shots and threes was still encouraging.
Feb 8, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Georgetown Hoyas forward Thomas Sorber (35) drives past Seton Hall Pirates center Godswill Erheriene (54) during the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
More coverage: Pacers dawdle but again put away a lottery team
52) Xaivian Lee, Princeton, point guard/shooting guard: Xaivian Lee evolved into more of a playmaker this season, a key development that should help teams visualize a more realistic NBA guard prospect. His creativity is the draw, but he also hit 59 threes this year and shot 42.0 percent on pull-ups.
Advertisement
Lee tested the draft process last year but couldn't get the call-up from G League Elite Camp to the NBA combine. Earning a direct invite to the combine this year would give him a better chance to validate the 16.9 points, 6.1 boards and 5.5 assists he put up in the Ivy League.
Dec 21, 2024; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Princeton Tigers guard Xaivian Lee (1) shoots the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Tom Horak-Imagn Images
Kevin O'Connor, Yahoo Sports
22) Asa Newell, Georgia, forward: The Pacers have been one of the league's best teams for a few months now, posting the seventh-best net rating ever since the NBA Cup. But looking ahead, Myles Turner will be a free agent this summer, which means finding another big man could be a priority. Newell has springs in his legs, regularly slamming lobs and swatting shots. Tyrese Haliburton would find him more than anyone ever has. Even though his discipline reflects his youth, his energetic style suggests he'll someday become a highly versatile defender that could help fortify this Pacers defense.
Mar 20, 2025; Wichita, KS, USA; Georgia Bulldogs forward Asa Newell (14) and Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Ryan Nembhard (0) fight for a rebound in the first half of a first round men's NCAA Tournament game at Intrust Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Adam Finkelstein, CBS Sports
22) Will Riley, Illinois, small forward: Riley is even less ready for the NBA than (Carter) Bryant is, especially from a physical standpoint, and would be bound to spend significant time in the G League. Nevertheless, he went to Illinois with a clear one-and-done plan and showed some real growth down the stretch of the season. At 6-foot-8, there are flashes of shot-making and playmaking alike. Overall, he's a long-term stock with a high ceiling.
Illinois Fighting Illini forward Will Riley (7) rushes past Iowa Hawkeyes forward Payton Sandfort (20) on Thursday, March 13, 2025, during the second round of the men's Big Ten tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Illinois Fighting Illini defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes, 106-94.
Sam Vecenie, The Athletic
19) Joan Beringer, Cedevita, center: Beringer is the big riser of the last three months on the international scene. He's a wildly athletic center who is new to the game and has surprisingly carved out a serious role for Eurocup team Cedevita. He's as loose athletically as you'll find a center, with real flexibility and explosiveness at 6-10. He also has extremely long arms and showcases an immense amount of defensive upside that could become versatile in the right situation. More than anything, though, what scouts rave about are his hands. He catches everything in and outside of his area, showing serious potential to be a rim-runner as a low-usage screen-and-roll center. But he isn't all that massive for the role, which those rim-runner centers typically are. Additionally, he's got some work to do with the intricacies of the game. I tend to get feedback for him more in the 20s and early 30s, but Indiana is a perfect fit for him as a transition-based team that has a desperate need at backup center (and potentially a long-term need at starting center if Myles Turner departs in free agency).
49) Rocco Zikarsky, Brisbane Bullets, center
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Pacers mock drafts, predictions for 2025 NBA draft picks
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indianapolis Star
38 minutes ago
- Indianapolis Star
Pacers unveil special concession items for remaining 2025 NBA Finals home games
The Indiana Porkster, which features four preparations of pork, is one of six limited-edition conession items for the Pacers remaining home games in the 2025 NBA Finals Courtesy Of The Indiana Pacers And Levy Restaurants Ahi tuna poke nachos are one of six limited-edition conession items for the Pacers remaining home games in the 2025 NBA Finals Courtesy Of The Indiana Pacers And Levy Restaurants The Three Point Combo play from Delaware Street Pizza inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse is one of six limited-edition conession items for the Pacers remaining home games in the 2025 NBA Finals Courtesy Of The Indiana Pacers And Levy Restaurants A short rib sandwich in a barbecue glaze with bread and butter pickles and an apple cider vinegar slaw is one of six limited-edition conession items for the Pacers remaining home games in the 2025 NBA Finals Courtesy Of The Indiana Pacers And Levy Restaurants A pork belly and cheese curd bratwurst with caramelized onions and mustard is one of six limited-edition conession items for the Pacers remaining home games in the 2025 NBA Finals Courtesy Of The Indiana Pacers And Levy Restaurants The Pacers on June 12 unveiled six special-edition concession foods for the team's remaining home games in the 2025 NBA Finals Courtesy Of The Indiana Pacers And Levy Restaurants
Indianapolis Star
38 minutes ago
- Indianapolis Star
Pacers unveil special concession foods for remaining home Finals games
Exciting things are happening at Gainbridge Fieldhouse these days. The Indiana Pacers are competing for their first NBA championship in franchise history, sure, but perhaps just as importantly, spectators at Gainbridge Fieldhouse can chow down on some special concession items to mark the historic occasion. The Pacers and food partner Levy Restaurants on June 12 unveiled six special dishes that will be available at Game 4 of the NBA Finals versus the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday (and, if necessary, Game 6 on June 19). Levy Restaurants executive chef Charles Humphreys said the limited-edition concessions will only be available for the Pacers' remaining Finals home games. A taste of these stadium bites essentially requires one of the city's priciest passes, with Game 4 tickets fetching around $850 to $3,000 on Ticketmaster. These are the special concessions items to look out for if you manage to snag an in-person view of the Pacers' title push and have some discretionary income remaining. The Boomer Stacker This monument to the meat and dairy industries features two smashed hamburger patties, a small fried pork tenderloin, double sharp cheddar cheese, bacon strips, fried onions and a drizzle of barbecue ranch. Indiana Porkster If you didn't know Indiana is one of the nation's biggest pork producers, this behemoth on a bun should erase any doubt. Pig appears in four different forms on the Indiana Porkster, piling a fried tenderloin atop bratwurst simmered in Sun King Osiris Pale Ale, thick-cut bacon and a bacon onion jam, plus a drizzle of whole grain mustard. Ahi tuna poke nachos Humphreys' personal favorite dish features nacho-shaped wontons, truffle Sriracha aioli, green onion and toasted sesame seed with soft cubes of raw ahi tuna. Three Point Combo Play A foot-long garlic butter toasted baguette is topped with chicken parmesan, meatballs, Provolone cheese and pomodoro, plus Italian beef and provolone cheese. Bone-in short rib sandwich Short rib smoked for 10 hours receives a sweet barbecue glaze, bread and butter pickles and apple cider vinegar slaw. Notably, despite the sandwich's name, the bone is removed before being served. Pork belly and cheese curd link Smoking Goose pork belly and white cheese enveloped in a snapping casing join caramelized onion and spicy brown mustard atop a toasted brioche hot dog bun.
Los Angeles Times
an hour ago
- Los Angeles Times
LGBTQ+ athletes strive toward equality and inclusion
Throughout history, professional athletes have made headlines for coming out as members of the LGBTQ+ community. For these LGBTQ+ athletes and others, participating in sports often comes with struggles cisgender athletes may not experience, as they may face homophobia at all levels of competition. Thomas Foley is a former School Counselor at Princeton Middle School and current senior education manager of HiTOPS, an organization in Princeton providing support groups for LGBTQ+ youth and their families. Foley said his participation in high school soccer as an 'out' gay athlete was not positively received. 'People used to call me slurs on the field,' Foley said. 'People in my own locker room would tell me to leave the locker room because they weren't comfortable with me being there, when all I wanted to do was change, put my gear on, and get ready to play.' Much of the polarizing debate regarding transgender inclusion in competitive sports is rooted in the potential physical advantages transgender women possess as biological men. Lia Thomas, a trans woman competing in the collegiate women's swimming league, faced discrimination and controversy after her Division I National Championship win. Negative media coverage and public condemnation of her alleged physical advantages sparked conversation within the LGBTQ+ community. 'Trans people have been participating in sports for decades, and they're really only hated doing so when they win,' Foley said. In the biological realm, inherent physical advantages including greater height, higher bone density, greater lung capacity, higher testosterone levels, longer wingspan, and larger hand and feet sizes are sometimes present in trans women who have gone through male puberty. The differences between biological men and women are the reason for different net heights in volleyball, different hurdle heights in track, and different three-point arcs in basketball. But these physical variations between athletes often occur within sexes in a similar way they do across. Advocates for trans women in women's sports point at Michael Phelps, the swimmer decorated with 28 Olympic medals, for holding biological advantages such as a longer torso and lower lactic acid production, or Boban Marjanovic, the seven-foot-five-inch tall male NBA player who towers over shorter defenders. Sporting organizations such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association have established regulatory guidelines that consider the individual circumstances of trans athletes and scientifically address potential advantages, such as regulating hormone levels. In New Jersey, Princeton High School follows all New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association rules and regulations, meaning transgender athletes are allowed to compete with the sports team that either aligns with their gender identity or biological sex. The PHS Board of Education approved Policy 5756 to help guide decisions regarding LGBTQ+ inclusion within school. '[This policy] ensures a safe and supportive learning environment that is free from discrimination and harassment for transgender students, including students going through a gender transition,' said PHS Director of Athletics Brian Dzbenski. While the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association has rules that allow transgender athletes to compete with others of their aligned gender, there are still some instances where the athletes may feel uncomfortable. 'Sometimes it's a little strange being in a team of all girls when you're not a girl,' said transgender male athlete Jordan Shaevitz '23, who started playing softball in fifth grade and is currently a member of the PHS girls softball team. 'Sometimes it's a little uncomfortable. I choose not to use the girls locker room, so I have my own routines that are separate from the team.' Although playing on a team that does not align with his gender identity can feel uncomfortable at times, Shaevitz remains grateful for his supportive team members. 'It would be nice to have a boys softball team or a girls baseball team, or just make the teams co-ed,' said Shaevitz. 'I was able to find my community in the girls softball team even though I'm not a girl, but I know not everybody is [able to].' Many trans athletes, such as Chris Mosier, a transgender male triathlete, have taken strides in advocating for trans inclusion in sports. As an All-American duathlete, Mosier utilized his platform to prompt the International Olympic Committee to make changes to their rules in 2016, removing restrictions for trans men to compete with other male athletes. For many LGBTQ+ athletes, these progressive changes are a win. 'Softball is really good for my mental health … [and] sports are something that are for everyone. People [against trans inclusion in sports] are going off based on the assumption that [trans athletes] are naturally better, and they're not looking at all the hard work that they did,' Shaevitz said. '[Sports should] have rec-leagues [that] have opportunities for people of all identities to play.' For LGBTQ+ athletes, having the ability to enjoy the sport they love without the fear of homophobia is a critical aspect of their overall well-being and experience in the athletic community. 'Inclusion for anyone who wants to participate in anything is important,' Foley said. '[Some] people have a lack of understanding on LGBTQ+ people. The thing I want most is for people to understand.'
