The 2015 NBA Draft is just one day away, which means the Pacers' brass has been very busy gathering information and organizing their final draft boards in preparation for Thursday.
In advance of the draft, Pacers General Manager Kevin Pritchard spoke with the media on Wednesday morning. You can watch Pritchard's session with the press in the video player above.
MONTIETH: Pritchard Chooses Words Carefully »
"It sounds like a cliche but it's very true, we've got to pick the best player available," Pritchard said. "And it's even probably more true now because of the way teams are playing. They're putting five guys out there that are real playmakers. (The NBA game) is getting less position(-oriented)...You're not (just) going after a quarterback or a point guard."
Speaking generally about this year's draft entrants, Pritchard said that the team's scouting staff is very excited about the depth of talent in the 2015 draft class. Indiana owns the 11th overall pick.
"We feel like we're going to get (a player who can be) at least a rotation guy early and a starter for sure down the line (with the 11th pick)," Pritchard said.
He later added: "We really like four or five guys."
Both Pacers President Larry Bird and head coach Frank Vogel have been outspoken about the team's desire to play at a faster pace next season, but Pritchard said that change in philosophy won't preclude them from considering a more traditional post player with their draft pick.
"You've got to rebound to run, too," Pritchard said. "So we're not going to ignore that.
"If you're throwing it out of bounds because other teams scored, you're not running as much. You've got to defend and you've got to run."
Pritchard also said the team was not opposed to drafting a player who did not work out for the team in Indiana. The Pacers had 36 players in for pre-draft workouts, including a handful of players who were invited to attend Thursday's draft at the Barclays Center and have a good chance of being drafted in the lottery: Notre Dame guard Jerian Grant, Wisconsin forward Frank Kaminsky, Kentucky forward Trey Lyles, Kansas guard/forward Kelly Oubre, Murray State guard Cameron Payne, Arkansas forward Bobby Portis, Texas forward Myles Turner, and Utah guard Delon Wright.
Aside from the draft, the biggest question regarding the Pacers' roster concerns the status of starting frontcourt players David West and Roy Hibbert. Both West and Hibbert have player options for the 2015-16 season, but have yet to inform the team if they will opt in or out for next season. They don't have to make that decision until early next week.
"We respect those guys so much that we're going to let them make their decisions in their time, not our time," Pritchard said.