Indiana Pacers: 5 best draft picks and draft-day trades

Indiana Pacers best draft-day move: Drafting Danny Granger

The only bright spot during a dark time for the Pacers. Indiana selected Danny Granger out of New Mexico with the 17th pick in the 2005 draft. Granger was the first draft pick for the Pacers after the legendary Reggie Miller retired. Over the next six seasons, the Pacers only made the playoffs one time, which ended in a first-round loss.

Granger wound up being the only bright spot for most of that period. He quickly became the go-to-guy. During the 2008-09 season, he was named to his only All-Star appearance while averaging 25.8 points per game. From the 2007-08 season to the 2011-12 season he was the Pacers’ main offensive threat. During that time he averaged no less than 18.7 points per game.

Sadly, Granger started to become injury-prone during the end of his tenure, but his leadership and mentoring ability were second to none as helped with the progression of younger players such as Paul George and Lance Stephenson. During 2013-14, he was unceremoniously traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen. The Pacers were never the same that season.

Despite the terrible decision to trade one of the locker room leaders, Granger is still one of the best players to ever put on the blue and gold. During his 8.5 seasons in Indiana, he averaged 17.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steal per game. He was named to the 2006 NBA All-Rookie Second Team, won a gold medal in the FIBA World Championship in 2010, and was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2009.