Indiana Pacers Reshape Backcourt With Two Picks In 2025 NBA Draft

Forbes

5 hours ago

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 14: Kam Jones #1 of the Marquette Golden Eagles dribbles in the first ... More half of a semifinal game against the St. John's Red Storm during the Big East Men's Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 14, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by)
INDIANAPOLIS – Before the 2025 NBA Draft began, it was clear the Indiana Pacers were eager to add a contributor. Just before the first round tipped off, Indiana struck a deal with the San Antonio Spurs, acquiring the 38th pick. With the Pacers financial picture in mind, adding a rookie on a lower-salary deal made strategic sense.
That pick gave Indiana a shot at doing just that. And after a day of waiting, the Pacers made their selection early in the second round by bringing in Marquette product Kameron Jones, a 23-year old from Tennessee. He spent four seasons with the Golden Eagles and evolved tremendously year over year.
As a freshman, Jones came off the bench and learned the ropes. His scoring more than doubled as a sophomore, and his efficiency jumped in year three. When Tyler Kolek left Marquette for the NBA, Jones assumed more playmaking responsibilities. His assists per game number then rose from 2.4 per game to 5.9 as a senior, and that passing tied together his ball handling skills.
Each year, Jones added a new layer to his game. The Pacers current front office likes when players who work on their craft and continuously develop – Jones fits that mold.
'I like it!' Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard tweeted after the pick.
As a senior, Jones averaged 19.2 points and 5.9 assists per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. He was a consensus second team All-American honoree and was a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award. Importantly for Indiana, he did a lot of things that suggest he will fit well in the Pacers system.
What do Pacers draft picks need to do?
Indiana's identity is built on pace, ball movement, possessions, and efficiency. Those principles have propelled them to consecutive Eastern Conference Finals and a recent trip to the NBA Finals. Clearly, their identity is successful, and it requires specific strengths from players at certain positions.
Guards in Indiana's scheme must be smart decision makers, capable shooters, and comfortable in the pick-and-roll. They need to play fast without sacrificing control. Pacers initiators are versatile.
Jones' college metrics suggest he can fit into that style as he grows in the NBA. While having a usage rate approaching 30%, Jones held a turnover rate below 10% – he rarely made poor decisions despite being heavily involved. According to Synergy Sports, he ran 302 pick-and-roll possessions last season, ranking in the 99th percentile for frequency and 85th percentile in efficiency. He made a tidy 36.6% of his three-point shots across 861 attempts at Marquette.
His defense features more speed than strength. Jones catch-and-shoot numbers are better than his off the dribble J, and he doesn't get to the foul line as often as other guard prospects. But his strengths are obvious, and they are a snug fit with what the Pacers hope to get out of ball handlers. At pick 38, he's a logical fit.
'I'm just ready to get to Naptown and get to work,' Jones said on ESPN after being drafted.
Given when Jones was drafted, it is likely he receives a standard NBA contract with the blue and gold – just like previous Pacers high second-round picks Andrew Nembhard and Johnny Furphy. With Indiana's star point guard Tyrese Haliburton out for a while due to a torn Achilles, Jones could add meaningful depth to the blue and gold.
Another area that guides the Pacers success, and particularly their efficiency, is shot making. That sounds obvious as the objective of the sport, but Indiana's player development program works hard at improving the jump shooting ability of every player on the roster. That's why the Pacers ranked fourth in effective field goal percentage last season – they move the ball well and have a team filled with shot makers.
That priority also explains the Pacers 54th overall pick in Thursday's second round. They took Liberty guard Taelon Peter, a five-year college player born in Arkansas.
LYNCHBURG, VA - FEBRUARY 27: Taelon Peter #2 of the Liberty Flames takes a jump shot during a ... More college basketball game against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Liberty Arena on February 27, 2025 in Lynchburg, Virginia. (Photo by)
Peter, 23, was a masterful play finisher for the Flames last season. He led Conference USA with a 75.6% field goal percentage on two-point shots, a remarkable feat for a guard, while also canning a ridiculous 45.3% of his outside shots. He attempted 170 three pointers, too. This isn't a case of low volume clouding the percentages.
That efficiency is unheard of. Peter's true shooting percentage in his final collegiate season was 72.8%, among the NCAA's best. Of the 13 players who logged at least 500 minutes and eclipsed 70% true shooting, only three – including Peter – weren't post players, and most didn't attempt even 20 threes.
It's difficult to take a bunch of jumpers yet maintain a high efficiency. Peter did it. He averaged 13.7 points per game for Liberty this past season and played in 35 games. He primarily came off the bench.
'My role is obviously a little different than it was last year, so learning which ways I can be the best teammate is definitely something that I'm trying to learn and grow,' Peter told the Liberty Champion of his development.
Prospects who can make shots have a clear path to success in the NBA. Peter still has areas to improve, but his elite shooting and athleticism give him a solid foundation. He can get up threes quickly, rarely takes analytically-unkind shots, and has impressive bounce to go with it.
Peter ranked in the 99th percentile on spot up shot efficiency in the NCAA ranks last season, per Synergy Sports. His transition efficiency was in the 96th percentile. On a Pacers team that thrives in the open floor and emphasizes shot making, he's a promising developmental piece. The Liberty product should fit right in.
Since the two-way contract was introduced in 2017, every 54th pick has signed one in their first season. That should be the expectation for Peter, who was drafted late by an Indiana team that could have openings with their two-way contracts pending the futures of Enrique Freeman and Quenton Jackson.
The NBA Draft can be an unknown. Much of it is hard to project. The Pacers are trying to make their reality more known by picking players who fit their system well, and they did exactly that.