Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Now that the 2015 NBA Draft order has been set, it is time to begin looking at which players would fit well with different teams. The Indiana Pacers currently have the No. 11 overall pick, and they are looking to take the best player available as they search for a long-term piece that will help them compete for a championship.
Stanley Johnson is one of the more talented prospects in the entire 2015 draft class, but there is a chance that he could fall to the area where the Pacers will be selecting. There isn’t a great chance that he will last all the way to the 11th pick, but if Larry Bird could find a way to trade up a slot or two in the draft order he might just get him.
Why should the Pacers be aggressive in their pursuit of Johnson?
First of all, pairing him alongside Paul George in the backcourt would be nearly impossible for opponents to defend. Johnson has freakish athleticism, and George is one of the best young stars in the game. They are both extremely big for the wing positions, but are more than capable of playing them.
During his freshman season with the Arizona Wildcats last year, Johnson ended up averaging 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. At 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds, he combines his big build with the athleticism and forms a skill set that has many believing he will end up being a future star in the NBA.
Indiana could use a replacement big man for Roy Hibbert and also a new power forward at some point to replace the aging David West. There are going to be quite a few talented frontcourt players available when the Pacers are on the clock at No. 11, but they cannot afford to pass on Johnson. He would be oversized at the shooting guard position, but there is no question that he would be able to defend against any opposing perimeter player.
Frank Vogel and the Pacers are all about defense first, and Johnson would fit into that system as well. He was a very solid defender in college, averaging 1.5 steals per game during his first season with the Wildcats.
There have been quite a few comparisons floating around about him, but the name LeBron James has come up more than once. His body style is very similar to James’ and he is a reckless player when going to the rim. Johnson could still use some work on his game, but he is already a fairly well-rounded player.
Another reason for why Johnson would be a good fit with the Pacers is that one of his best friends is already playing for them. Solomon Hill played for Arizona during his collegiate career, and Johnson has called Hill one of his closest friends throughout the draft process. It would help make the transition to the NBA a smooth one for Johnson.
That being said, the Pacers cannot afford to miss with their pick no matter who they end up taking. Johnson may not be the biggest need for the Pacers, but there is a good chance that he could become the second star alongside of George they’ve been seeking.
Needless to say, it is going to be very intriguing to see what Bird ends up doing in the draft. The Pacers have quite a few options, but Johnson is without question a perfect fit.
Evan Massey is the Green Bay Packers beat writer for www.RantSports.com, and also contributes across the NFL, MLB and NBA portions of the site. Follow him on Twitter at @Massey_Evan and like him on Facebook.
