The Indiana Pacers may not have had a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, but they were able to find value in the second round, picking up Marquette standout Kameron Jones and Liberty sixth man Taelon Peter.
Both players bring extensive college experience, making second-year player Johnny Furphy still the youngest player on the Summer League roster.
Furphy was used sparingly in his first season, but has stepped into the "veteran" role on the summer squad. He has long had the backing of Rick Carlisle and doesn't have much to prove this summer. So far, he has been impressed with the rookies.
"I like them," said Johnny Furphy. "I think they're super skilled. Yeah, I'm really excited to see what they can do in some way. But, yeah, my first impression is that they're definitely super skilled."
Both Peter and Jones are more polished than Furphy was when he was drafted, although a year of NBA training gives him a massive advantage.
Jones, an All-American in his final season, averaged 19.2 points and 5.9 assists for the Golden Eagles. He is a bigger guard, and his outside shot is shaky, although with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined for all of next season, he is expected to get more playing time than initially thought.
Peter was an overlooked prospect who was expected by many to go undrafted, but after leading the country in true shooting percentage as a guard, his efficiency is impossible to ignore. Coming from a small school and conference, he will have trouble cracking the rotation, although he has a vote of confidence from Furphy, who was in the same spot last season.
Check out the All Pacers homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles.