Adi Joseph

USA TODAY Sports

The NBA draft is Thursday night and barring a trade, the Pacers will have to wait until pick No. 57 to make their first selection.

Here is a quick rundown of Indiana's needs heading into a crucial offseason:

2013-14 record: 56-26 (1st in Central Division).

2013-14 statistics: 96.7 points per game (24th in NBA), 92.3 points allowed per game (2nd in NBA), 2,831 defensive rebounds (1st in NBA).

2013 draft recap: No. 23 overall pick Solomon Hill spent most of the season on the bench and averaged the fewest points per minute on the Pacers. He had a brief assignment with the NBA Development League's Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

Decision-maker: Team President Larry Bird oversees all decisions but works closely with general manager Kevin Pritchard and former president Donnie Walsh. Bird stepped down for a year but resumed duties last offseason. He hired coach Frank Vogel and was the architect of most of the roster.

Biggest offseason decisions: Lance Stephenson is a free agent, and that's a whole can of worms. The mercurial shooting guard is exceptionally talented but seems to be a constant presence in the media for his antics and trash talk. He could command a large offer elsewhere but might be better suited to stay, if Bird is willing to spend big. Paul George and Roy Hibbert also have big contracts, so the Pacers don't have much financial flexibility. Backup guard Evan Turner's qualifying offer will be rejected, making him a free agent. He serves as a second option if Stephenson isn't retained, though his play after joining Indiana at midseason was discouraging. Big man Lavoy Allen's qualifying option also will not be picked up.

Draft priorities



1. Shooting guard: With at least Stephenson or Turner out of the door, the Pacers need to find a backup. This draft features a lot of perimeter talent, including college seniors ready to contribute. Missouri's Jabari Brown, Cincinnati's Sean Kilpatrick and Iowa State's DeAndre Kane are versatile and talented enough to make an impact.

2. Scoring: Offense was a problem all season for the Pacers, and a backup who could provide instant points might be worth moving up in the draft for. Arizona's Nick Johnson can play either guard spot and scores in droves.

3. Small forward: George is the Pacers' best player, but a stronger backup would be a big help. Iowa State's Melvin Ejim and Oklahoma's Cameron Clark deserve consideration as ready-to-play options.