Amen Thompson doesn't project to be available to the Indiana Pacers, but his upside is undeniable
The Indiana Pacers didn't move up in the NBA Draft lottery, so they currently own the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. As a result, most of the players in the top tier of prospects won't be available to the blue and gold.
Amen Thompson could be one of those players. Most mock drafts project the Overtime Elite product to be chosen inside the top five. But his skills are worth breaking down, especially with a twin brother (Ausar) in the same draft class. The Pacers will have their eyes on most of the top prospects this cycle.
Amen is considered by many to be the better prospect of the Thompsons, and that comes down to upside. He has skill as a shot creator and passer, and since he is six-foot-seven-inches tall, he could be the widely-coveted jumbo creator teams are searching for in the NBA. Per proballers, he averaged 6.6 assists per game in Overtime Elite play this season.
Thompson's speed and athleticism pop when watching his games. In the open floor, he is electric. Few can run with him, and his court vision only makes it harder to stop him in transition. That burst shines in halfcourt settings, too. Defenders struggle to stay in front of him, and he uses his physical tools to get to the rim, where he is an excellent finisher.
Thompson has shown terrific flashes of passing prowess. His ability to throw the ball ahead is impressive, and he pairs that with good vision to roll men and his open teammates. He routinely threw his City Reapers teammates open and created opportunities.
Those skills display his ability to read the game. It's clear watching Thompson that his feel is strong — he has a good sense for where his opponents and teammates are at all times. That makes his drives, and passes, more effective.
Thompson's finishing at the rim is excellent. He canned 63.7% of his shots from inside the arc, and that accounts for a poor midrange game. Once Thompson gets by his defender with his burst, he is nearly impossible to slow down.
His on-ball defense is effective, and it is mostly held up by his speed and athleticism. He struggles with stronger players, but can hold his own against several guys on the perimeter and has the potential to be an impressive defender on the wing.
Tall shot creators who can defend are incredibly valuable in the modern NBA. If Thompson's skills grow in a way that looks possible, he could be an impressive pro. There's a reason ESPN has the guard/wing hybrid going fourth overall in their most recent mock draft.
But it isn't all perfect. If it was, Thompson would be closer to the top of the draft.
His team defense is poor. He looks disengaged often, and despite having an incredible ability to read the game on offense, his defense away from the ball needs work. If Thompson doesn't end up being a good on-ball defender in the NBA, he could really struggle on the less glamorous end of the floor.
His jump shot is a weakness. He went 16/63 (25.4%) from three-point range this past season, and he wasn't particularly accurate from the foul line, either. He may be limited to on-ball roles to be effective as a pro if the shot doesn't develop, though it certainly could. He can punish some defenders who help off of him just with his speed and finishing, but he will need to be a better outside shooter in the NBA.
Altogether, Thompson looks like he could be a great NBA player. Shot creators of his size are rare and hard to slow down, even if they can't shoot. But questions about his jumper and defense, as well as curiosity about Overtime Elite, make Thompson's range of outcomes fairly large. He could turn out to be a substandard pro. He could be excellent. That's true for every prospect, but his range is wider.
Dominick Barlow, who spent this past season with the San Antonio Spurs on a two-way contract, played in Overtime Elite two years ago. He averaged 23.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per 40 minutes in the league before appearing in 28 NBA games for the Spurs. He grew significantly from the start to the end of the season in the G League as well. There is evidence that OTE can produce pros.
The Pacers could benefit from the chance to develop Thompson. His abilities in the open floor fit well with the team's style, and he would give the blue and gold another shot creator. But questions would persist about his fit with Tyrese Haliburton, especially if his jumper doesn't translate and he requires the ball to be effective.
Amen Thompson could be the next Overtime Elite success story. His upside is tremendous, and his high-level skills are rare for a player of his size. He could be the answer for a few teams near the top of the draft, and while it isn't clear if he will be available to the Pacers, his talent is undeniable.
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