5. Indiana Pacers – Paolo Banchero, F, Duke
If there’s a scenario in which the Indiana Pacers land Paolo Banchero with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, they should run to turn in their selection card. Banchero could go as high as No. 1 in this class. But there’s also a scenario where he drops a few spots.
On most nights, Banchero is generally the best player on the floor. He has also been praised for his NBA-ready potential. He at times however shies away from contact and could be viewed as not as aggressive as he should be. Especially in the pre-draft workouts, he’ll have to prove that he can hit a consistent 3-point shot.
Over the course of his freshman season at Duke, he’s only shot the deep ball at a 31 percent clip. That could also be viewed as concerning. Even more so considering Banchero will be an early selection due to his offensive prowess.