Indiana Pacers 2025 NBA Mock Draft Roundup 1.0
Leading up to the 2025 NBA Draft, our Indiana Pacers Mock Draft Roundup will highlight recent picks for the Indiana Pacers from several prominent sites and draft analysts.
The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the Pacers:
18. Liam McNeeley, Connecticut
UConn freshman Liam McNeeley has had a relatively underwhelming freshman campaign relative to his expectations. But there are still flashes of promise from him, like when he had 26 points with 8 rebounds and 4 assists against Gonzaga on Dec. 14. He ranks in the 99th percentile among all NCAA players in the metric RAPM, per CBB Analytics, which is encouraging.
20. Ian Jackson, North Carolina
Jackson has averaged over 23 points per game through his last six games. He's always been hyper-competitive and made great strides with his shooting in high school. Now it's just the feel and shot selection that scouts want to see.
Bleacher Report — Jonathan Wasserman
20. Labaron Philon, Alabama
Labaron Philon's versatility has ultimately been more impressive than any one skill.
Despite lacking both explosiveness and potent shotmaking ability, Philon has been able to score using his handle, footwork and touch. He shows a special knack for finding open space inside the arc by changing speeds and taking counter steps to elude defenders.
While Philon hasn't looked like the flashiest playmaker, he's still averaging 4.0 assists, showing poise, vision and the willingness to identify simple reads and teammates in rhythm.
NBA teams may wind up picturing a Swiss Army knife guard, rather than a primary ball-handler.
Despite lacking both explosiveness and potent shotmaking ability, Philon has been able to score using his handle, footwork and touch. He shows a special knack for finding open space inside the arc by changing speeds and taking counter steps to elude defenders.
While Philon hasn't looked like the flashiest playmaker, he's still averaging 4.0 assists, showing poise, vision and the willingness to identify simple reads and teammates in rhythm.
NBA teams may wind up picturing a Swiss Army knife guard, rather than a primary ball-handler.
15. Derik Queen, Maryland
Arguably the most productive freshman in the country this season, Queen is averaging 16 points, eight rebounds, two assists and over one block and one steal per game while doing it all quite efficiently. He shoots 56.2 percent from the field, gets to the foul line often and displays skills on tape that big-bodied 6-10 teenagers simply rarely showcase. He has unbelievable balance and coordination for his size and is excellent at attacking and driving off of the bounce against bigs. Queen can catch in the mid-post and throw up an impressive array of midrange jumpers with touch, or put his shoulder into somebody and get to a hook shot. He's comfortable shooting 3s even if they haven't gone in yet. I would bet at some point in his career he makes them.
Defensively there are serious questions. He's undersized and doesn't move wildly well laterally. There will also be questions about his weight (though he's done great work over the last eight months to get into the best shape of his career). But Queen is one of those players whom scouts continue to note as having been great every single time they've seen him. He was remarkably productive at Montverde (Fla.) Academy. He was great in front of scouts at the McDonald's All-American game, and he has been great this season for the Terrapins.
Defensively there are serious questions. He's undersized and doesn't move wildly well laterally. There will also be questions about his weight (though he's done great work over the last eight months to get into the best shape of his career). But Queen is one of those players whom scouts continue to note as having been great every single time they've seen him. He was remarkably productive at Montverde (Fla.) Academy. He was great in front of scouts at the McDonald's All-American game, and he has been great this season for the Terrapins.
16. Derik Queen, Maryland
The Pacers' frontcourt depth has been tested because of several injuries inside, which might cause the team to look at adding a young prospect whom it can develop behind Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner.
Queen is one of the most productive freshmen, bringing an advanced feel for the college game and skill level, creating shots for himself and others for Maryland, scoring and drawing fouls prolifically while filling up the box score. He has some questions to answer regarding his defense and perimeter shooting. He is not the most modern big man and wouldn't be a fit for every team's roster because of his average mobility, intensity and lack of shooting range.
Scouts will be studying his impact in the Big Ten and beyond to get a better gauge of how to weigh his impressive productivity versus his weaknesses. -- Givony
Queen is one of the most productive freshmen, bringing an advanced feel for the college game and skill level, creating shots for himself and others for Maryland, scoring and drawing fouls prolifically while filling up the box score. He has some questions to answer regarding his defense and perimeter shooting. He is not the most modern big man and wouldn't be a fit for every team's roster because of his average mobility, intensity and lack of shooting range.
Scouts will be studying his impact in the Big Ten and beyond to get a better gauge of how to weigh his impressive productivity versus his weaknesses. -- Givony