Pacers draft grades: 'A pick destined to make Indiana look smart in a few years' and Round 2's 'biggest stunner'

Indianapolis Star

a day ago

Despite not having a first-round pick, the Indiana Pacers seemed to do well for themselves in this week's NBA draft. At least that's what the draft grades say.
The selection of Kam Jones at No. 38 was met with pretty much universal positive reaction. The Marquette guard can fill an immediate need as a third point guard with Tyrese Haliburton likely out for the 2025-26 season.
The Taelon Peter pick at No. 54 was a curveball and produced some intrigue.
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∎ ESPN.com's Kevin Pelton gives the Pacers an A, weighted obviously for only having second-round picks.
"The Pacers have made one of my favorite second-round picks two years in a row. Unlike 2024 second-rounder Johnny Furphy, who played sparingly as a rookie at age 20, the 23-year-old Jones has more potential to contribute immediately. Indiana could use the guard help with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined after his heartbreaking Achilles rupture during Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
Peter, who spent the bulk of his college career at D-II Arkansas Tech, is a fascinating swing. He's a guard who averaged just 1.0 APG as a fifth-year senior at Liberty, but why pass when you shoot 76% on 2s and 45% on 3s? I'm not sure that will translate, but at the 54th pick, there's no downside for Indiana."
∎ Yahoo! Sports' Kevin O'Connor graded by selection. He gave the Pacers at B for the Kam Jones pick at No. 34.
"Tyrese Haliburton will be out for all of next season, but Jones could help handle some of the shot-creation responsibilities. Jones offers crafty combo guard skills with advanced shot creation and a blossoming playmaking feel. But his so-so athleticism and streaky shooting paint him as just a cog rather than the rare star upperclassman set to enter the league."
He liked the Taelon Peter pick even more, giving it an A+.
"Peter is a true sleeper who played three seasons in Division II at Arkansas Tech before transferring to Liberty, where he led the NCAA in true shooting percentage. He's a knockdown shooter from 3, and a crafty finisher around the rim. He wasn't expected to get drafted after not receiving an invite to any pre-draft competitions, yet here he is going to the Pacers. Considering the surprise and the story, Peter gets an A+."
∎ CBS Sports' Kyle Boone also graded by pick. If you're noticing a trend, he liked the Kam Jones selection, too. Giving in an A.
"This is a pick destined to make Indiana look smart in a few years. I had a late first-round grade on Jones and love the on- and off-ball capabilities he showcased across four seasons at Marquette. He's more of a scoring guard than point guard and will fit nicely playing alongside a diverse set of shot-creators and shot-makers in Indiana."
He wasn't so kind on the Taelon Peter pick, though, giving it a D.
"This pick is completely out of left field and the biggest stunner of Round 2. I didn't have Peter ranked as a top-100 player in this class, though he led college hoops in true shooting percentage last season at Liberty and hit 45.3% of his 3s. You could call this a sleeper, I guess. But I'll call this a reach."
∎ Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey gave the Kam Jones pick a B+.
"Jones doesn't quite ace the eye test (6-3, 202 lbs.), but he usually jumps off your streaming device. He is a fluid handler and decisive attacker who can score from every level but also offers ball security and a pinch of passing.
"He probably won't be a positive presence on defense, though, so he needs all of his offensive tools to surface at the next level. You want to believe they will, but his three-ball abandoned him this past season (31.1%), and he's never been a reliable free-throw shooter (career 67.1%).
"Of course, going to the Indiana Pacers means there might be some minutes available for Jones, too. Tyrese Haliburton's devastating Achilles injury in the Finals means the Pacers might be in a bit of a gap year, and Jones has a chance to establish himself as a role player earlier than he may have expected."
Bailey grades the Taelon Peter pick a C+, but admits he's intrigued by it.
"A sharpshooter for the Liberty Flames in 2024-25, Taelon Peter torched the nets with a 45.3 three-point percentage and led the entire NCAA in true shooting percentage.
"Indiana has gained a reputation in recent years of being able to uncover hidden gems. Aaron Nesmith was a castoff from the Boston Celtics. Andrew Nembhard was a second-round pick.
"And now, the Pacers have a chance to develop a three-point shooting specialist who was nowhere near anyone's radar heading into the draft.
"It's a gutsy pick, but this is the right range for gutsy."
∎ For The Win's Charles Curtis ranked the Pacers' draft No. 18 among all teams, giving the team a C+.
"Jones? Good pick. Peter? We'll see."
∎ The Score gave the Pacers' draft haul a B+.
"Jones gives the Pacers a plug-and-play guard as they look to build on last season's Finals appearance. The Marquette product took the reins from Tyler Kolek and excelled in his first campaign running the point, posting the seventh-best assist-to-turnover ratio (3.17) and placing 16th in assists (200). With Tyrese Haliburton expected to miss all of next season, Jones gives Indiana another steady hand at the point."