Mar 26, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) drives to the basket against Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason III (0) during the second half of the south regional final of the NCAA Tournament at KFC YUM!. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
The Indiana Pacers have the 47th overall pick in the upcoming 2017 NBA Draft. Here are five likely second round players who could land in Indiana on draft day.
Second round picks are rarely counted on to produce, but when a team such as the Indiana Pacers hits on one, it's an unexpected bonus that can provide a real lift for the franchise.
The Pacers own the 17th choice in the second round, which is No. 47 overall. The odds of obtaining a quality rotation player at this point in the draft are low, but certainly not impossible.
Paul Millsap, Mo Williams, Gerald Wilkins, Vernon Maxwell, Alvin Williams and Tyus Edney were all chosen 47th in their respective drafts, proving that talent can be found this late in the NBA Draft.
The upcoming draft is considered to be very deep by most analysts, which may allow several teams to strike gold in the second round.
Some of these prospects are talented but raw, while others are polished performers who are thought to have minimal upside as NBA players.
There are a number of college and international players who are worthy of being chosen 47th, and we will profile a handful of these prospects. Here are five possible options for the Indiana Pacers at pick No. 47, ranked by skill level and potential.
Mar 12, 2017; Hartford, CT, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs guard Sterling Brown (3) dribbles the ball against Cincinnati Bearcats guard Jacob Evans (1) in the first half of the championship game during the AAC Conference Tournament at XL Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
5. Sterling Brown, SG, SMU
2016-17 Statistics: 13.4 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.0 APG
Sterling Brown is a mature, four-year college player who has been getting some notice from NBA teams looking at prospects in the mid-to-late second round of the draft.
Brown has ideal size for an NBA wing at 6'6″ and 230 pounds. He also has long arms, which should allow him to log some minutes as a forward at the next level in addition to playing the shooting guard spot.
One of the buzzwords one often hears discussed in NBA circles these days is the "3-and-D" player — a guy who specializes in providing three-point shooting and defensive flexibility. Sterling Brown fits that mold nicely.
Brown shot an impressive 45 percent from behind the arc last season, and he is a good defender who can guard multiple positions.
Brown was a good athlete at the college level, but won't offer anything special in that regard against NBA competition. Due to this, his potential is somewhat limited on both ends of the floor.
Sterling Brown will be a likely role player at the next level, so most teams will pass him by as they search for huge upside in the second round. However, his solid all-around skills do warrant a look from teams choosing in the 40s.
March 17, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks forward Dillon Brooks (24) shoots the basketball against Iona Gaels forward Jordan Washington (23) during the second half in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
4. Dillon Brooks, SF, Oregon
2016-17 Statistics: 16.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.7 APG
Dillon Brooks decided to forgo his senior season and enter the 2017 NBA Draft. Brooks has enough to offer that he will certainly get a look from a number of teams as a second round prospect.
Brooks has a nice offensive game, as he can score in a variety of ways. He is effective around the rim, on drives and he developed into a good three-point shooter at the college level.
Dillon Brooks found success in one-on-one situations at Oregon, which will bode well for him if he can use those skills to create shots in the NBA.
Defensively, Brooks struggled against Pac-12 competition. He didn't perform well as an individual or a team defender, which will be a major concern since he'll be going up against even better athletes in the NBA.
Dillon Brooks has very short arms, and he is not an explosive athlete. He does not rebound well, even when playing close to the hoop. He is a fiery competitor — which can be both a blessing and a curse.
Brooks is a skilled offensive player, but he lacks the athletic ability and defensive instincts to take full advantage of his skill set in the NBA. He may be able to carve out a niche as a second unit player, but his potential doesn't seem to go very far beyond that.
Mar 16, 2017; Buffalo, NY, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) drives against Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers guard Greg Alexander (23) in the first half during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
3. Josh Hart, SG, Villanova
2016-17 Statistics: 18.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.9 APG
There is a great deal to like about Josh Hart's game, particularly when considering that he is looked upon as a probable mid-second round prospect.
Hart can do just about everything on the court: he has become a consistent three-point marksman, he can make plays on the drive, he is a hard worker and he was a strong defensive player at Villanova.
Hart has good size for the shooting guard position (6'5″, 210 pounds). He's a high-character guy who has also shown to be a very intense competitor.
The reason Hart is being pegged as a second-round pick is mostly due to his lack of athleticism. He's adequate in this area, but he may be overmatched physically by many of the wing players in the NBA.
Hart is not an outstanding ball handler, so he will probably have trouble getting to the rim in the NBA. His potential as a defender is also limited by the absence of quickness and lateral movement in his physical profile.
Josh Hart would be a very safe pick in the 40s, as he is likely to be a solid pro and hold down a spot in the NBA for years to come. However, he seems destined to be a good backup who has a varied skill set, but is not dominant in any one area.
Mar 25, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason (0) drives around Oregon Ducks guard Casey Benson (2) and forward Kavell Bigby-Williams (35) during the first half in the finals of the Midwest Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Sprint Center. Oregon defeated Kansas 74-60. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
2. Frank Mason III, PG, Kansas
2016-17 Statistics: 20.9 PPG, 5.2 APG, 4.2 RPG
Frank Mason III had an incredible senior season at Kansas, sweeping all of the major National Player of the Year awards after dominating the Big 12 Conference in 2016-17.
Mason can do it all offensively as a point guard — he's a great long-range shooter, he can drive and finish with a bucket or kick out to a teammate, and he has an effective midrange game.
Mason possesses elite athleticism and strength, showing exceptional body control in traffic. He's a mentally and physically tough player who was the heart and soul of the Jayhawks last year.
There is really only one thing keeping Frank Mason III from being a coveted first round prospect: size. He is 5'11", so many scouts feel he will be limited to being a role player at the NBA level.
While that might be true, there is reason to believe that Mason can overcome his lack of size. Because of the way the game is now being played, small point guards are finding success in today's NBA (5'9″ NBA All-Star Isaiah Thomas, for example).
Frank Mason III is sure to find a spot in the league, and his eventual role may go beyond simply being a reliable backup.
In terms of the Pacers' potential interest in Mason, one should keep in mind that Kevin Pritchard is now calling the shots in Indiana, and he just happens to be a former Kansas Jayhawks guard as well.
Apr 1, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Sindarius Thornwell (0) shoots the ball against Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Jordan Mathews (4) during the second half in the semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
1. Sindarius Thornwell, SG, South Carolina
2016-17 Statistics: 21.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.8 APG
For a player who might be available at pick No. 47, Sindarius Thornwell offers some tantalizing potential at the shooting guard position.
Thornwell is a physical guard who seems to enjoy going inside and taking on bigger players. He has an accurate outside jumper that he can get off quickly.
Sindarius Thornwell is regarded as an excellent defensive player who works very hard on that end of the court. He is also an elite rebounder for a player of his size.
Thornwell's problem in the NBA could be his lack of explosiveness, and partly due to this, he is thought to be a finished product with little upside potential at the next level.
However, Thornwell has a chance to prove the critics wrong due to his work ethic, as well as his mental and physical toughness. He has the tools to be a quality role player in the NBA, but he potentially could become much more than that.
Sindarius Thornwell is the type of player who may enter the NBA with modest expectations, but could end up being a steal in the second round of the draft — thus earning the top spot on our list of options for the Indiana Pacers with the No. 47 overall choice in the 2017 NBA Draft.
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