2021 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Pistons make right choice, movement in top-10
G. Indiana Pacers. Davion Mitchell. 13. player. 100.
2021 NBA Mock Draft — 13. Davion Mitchell, Indiana Pacers
The Pacers’ starting five is set, and with Rick Carlisle at the helm, there’s an urgency to return to contention next season. That leads to Davion Mitchell, one of the best guards in college basketball, the standout player of the NCAA tournament, and someone who can contribute from day one.
Mitchell was a bit of a late bloomer in college. He didn’t shoot well until his junior season, and there are still concerns tied to his subpar free-throw percentage. He’s also on the smaller side at 6-foot-2, with only a 6-foot-5 wingspan. Even so, he’s a confident scorer and playmaker, with a quick first step, polished go-to moves, and a fairly high basketball I.Q. The Pacers could play him behind or next to the likes of Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert in the backcourt.
Despite his size, Mitchell is also a tenacious defender who excels at the point of attack. He’s only a situational defender — he’s not perfect in a switch-heavy scheme, for example — but the Pacers are not a switch-heavy scheme, and Mitchell’s effort containing ball-handlers would fit nicely with Indiana’s system. He’s great value late in the lottery.
BIG BOARD RANKING: 10