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The Indiana Pacers will select seventh in this year’s NBA Draft. After great rookie seasons by Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard, the Pacers will look to nail their three picks in this year’s draft. The team’s future looks bright, with all-star Tyrese Haliburton running the show for coach Rick Carlisle. Here are what I believe to be five great options for the Pacers at pick seven if available. 

Jarace Walker (Forward, Houston) 

The Pacers ranked 26th in the league in defense. Walker is a defensive menace and was one of the best defensive players in the NCAA last year. He’s listed at 6’8, 240 pounds and has a wingspan of 7’2. The Pacers could easily slot him in at the four and pair him with Myles Turner and have any option they like off the bench in Jalen Smith or Isaiah Jackson. He also has an impressive offensive game, including shooting almost 35% from three last year and is a great passer. Walker fits the build of a two-way defender. 

Gradey Dick (Guard/Forward, Kansas)

With Buddy Hield always being surrounded in trade rumors, we can never expect if he’s going to be on the roster or not. Dick is one of the best shooters from this class, shooting 40% from three last year. He is an excellent shot creator with a quick release on his teammates passes, and he is uber athletic. Being listed at 6’8, Dick could either play as a shooting guard or small forward primarily. His defense is a big question for teams, but he is still a great piece to either start or come off the bench if you need a shooter. 

Taylor Hendricks (Forward, UCF) 

No one expected Taylor to possibly be a lottery pick in this year’s draft; let alone be a one and done. However, he quickly sees himself rocketing up mock drafts, and it’s for good reason. Hendricks, to me, is “solid” at what he can do. He had a 6.2% block rate (94th in the country) and can also shoot from behind the arc (39%). At 6’9, Hendricks checks the box for a modern stretch four in the NBA. He is also a fearless finisher above the rim and will take contact. The Pacers need a forward badly, and I see Hendricks’ comp as funny enough, Myles Turner. 

Ausar Thompson (Guard/Forward, Overtime Elite Reapers) 

Ausar along with his twin brother Amen Thompson seem to be locks to be picks in the top 10. Amen is the better scorer, however, Ausar is a great off-ball perimeter defender, which is something the Pacers desperately need. While some might be drawn away from the unconditional route he took after high school, Ausar’s game makes up for that. He’s also a pretty good scorer, but not the best of shooters from three. 

Cason Wallace (Guard, Kentucky)

Wallace would be a great fit for the Pacers, simply put because they wouldn’t need for him to be a star. Wallace is a guard who doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be a threat. He shot 35% from three at Kentucky and has the work ethic to improve that number. He’s also a great playmaker, averaging under five assists per game, but he’s a really great movement creator for others. The Pacers could use him off the bench or start him, and he’d be efficient, but I see him better off as the sixth, seventh man. Oh, and by the way, he’s probably the best backcourt defender in this draft. He has that grit we saw from Collin Sexton when he was coming out of Alabama.