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Illinois Basketball: 3 predictions for the Illini heading into the NBA Draft

By Rees Woodcock

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 18: Alfonso Plummer #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini shoots a three point basket against the Chattanooga Mocs during the second half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 18, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 18: Alfonso Plummer #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini shoots a three point basket against the Chattanooga Mocs during the second half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 18, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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Illinois basketball
Mar 6, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Alfonso Plummer (11) signals a three-point shot he made during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

2. The Indiana Pacers will sign Alfonso Plummer

There is an outside chance that the Illinois basketball team has a player selected in the 2022 NBA Draft. I believe Kofi Cockburn is the only player who has a chance at achieving this goal, but that doesn’t mean he is the only Illini who could land with a team.

After the draft concludes, every NBA team is going to be eyeing players they had in for workouts in hopes of signing those talented players to some type of contract. I believe Alfonso Plummer could be in this group in the coming days.

Plummer had a big year with the Illini as he averaged 14.6 points and shot 40.8% from three-point range. It would be crazy for an NBA team to pass up on that type of offensive production. The one thing holding Plummer back is his lack of defense. If he becomes a solid defender, I believe Plummer has a 10-year NBA career in him.

There was some interest in Plummer from NBA teams. I believe both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers had the former Illini sharpshooter in for a workout.

My prediction is the Pacers will sign Plummer to some type of contact after the NBA Draft has concluded. While Indiana does have the final pick in the NBA Draft, I don’t think Plummer gets picked. He will go as a priority free agent, though.

The Pacers are looking to move a few pieces this offseason as they retool the roster. I think having a young gun like Plummer join the team would be a good move. He can cut his teeth with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants before being called up in a year or two.

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