Taylor Hendricks could be a great fit for the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Draft
NBA team's can't get enough three-and-D wings. They are immensely valuable and fit into any lineup with varied combinations of players. That's why a draft prospect like Taylor Hendricks, who projects to be, at a minimum, a three-and-D wing with upside elsewhere, is such an attractive prospect.
The Central Florida forward just wrapped up his freshman season with the Knights, where he averaged 15.1 points per game and shot 39.4% from deep. He also contributed 7.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, showing all the areas he can impact the game.
"I feel like I fit in the modern NBA perfectly," Hendricks said last week after a workout with the Indiana Pacers. Indiana, ironically, needs a player like Hendricks.
The Pacers ranked 26th in defensive rating this past season, and they know that they must improve in that area. They lacked size on that end of the floor, and their inability to stop bigger wings has been an issue for at least the last four seasons.
Hendricks could help with that. His defense is wonderful. In the NCAA ranks, he often contained opposing team's best players and finished the season with a +2.1 defensive box plus-minus, per Bart Torvik. Only 29 freshmen reached that number this past season, and few of them matched Hendricks shooting volume and accuracy.
On the ball, the forward can slow down his matchup. Off the ball, Hendricks is an attentive participant and a timely rotator. His block rate is far better than his steal rate, which is rare for a non-center player, but Hendricks' defensive rotations put him in positions to be a rim protector often.
He isn't the best at staying in front of quicker, shifty guards, but no young defender is perfect. Hendricks projects to be strong on that end of the floor as he develops in the NBA.
Offensively, many of the strengths for Hendricks start with his shooting. He canned nearly 40% of his 155 three-point attempts this past season, playing a part in his 58.9% true shooting.
Since 2008, only five freshmen in high major programs have matched Hendricks' block rate and three-point percentage, per Bart Torvik. Four of them went on to the NBA (Jessie Govan, who played for the G League Ignite, is the exception), and two of them (Jaren Jackson Jr and Wendell Carter Jr) are terrific NBA players. That's the prototype that Hendricks can follow thanks to his combination of defense and shooting.
His transition play matches a lot of his other skills in that he is smart and well positioned. He found ways to get open on the perimeter or at the rim when flying up and down the court, which would fit well with the Pacers' style.
When Hendricks is run off the three point line, the results are a mixed bag. His finishing on layups is one of the key concerns about his game, and he doesn't get to the foul line much. But he rarely turns it over and makes smart, thoughtful decisions. He will need a go-to move or two when attacking the rim at the pro level, but his shot may be good enough for it not to be a huge deal if he can never pressure the paint.
As a cutter, he's efficient at a low volume. The same can be said for Hendricks' screening ability. He can impact the game on the offensive end without touching the ball, and if the shot translates, he will provide spacing, too.
If his NCAA tape is an indicator, Hendricks should be a solid three-and-D player, at worst, in the NBA. The upside isn't as high as it is with other potential top-10 picks, but the base is rock solid. That's a very valuable pro player.
And the Pacers need players of that mold. The team lacks depth on the wing and has few forward-sized players. Size on the perimeter is a significant need for the blue and gold. Hendricks has it.
He also can defend, and Indiana needs defenders. He would be a near perfect fit with the team's infrastructure, and it would make a ton of sense if the blue and gold selected Hendricks with the seventh overall pick.
There's a handful of players that make sense for Indiana in the top-10. Taylor Hendricks is among them, though he would fit essentially anywhere. His high floor, coming from his three-and-D skill set, makes him an attractive NBA Draft prospect.
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