Matt Johnson
After reaching Game 7 of the NBA Finals last season, the Indiana Pacers now find themselves 40 games under .500 and seemingly tanking to try to secure the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. It might be for a prospect not many are expecting to go number one overall.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, rival teams “anticipate” that the Pacers will take Duke Blue Devils forward Cam Boozer, if they win the 2026 NBA Draft lottery to land the No. 1 overall pick.
“hen it comes to Boozer, in fact, there is a sentiment among some rival teams that the Duke star would be Indiana’s preferred selection even if the Pacers were to come away with the No. 1 overall pick because of his potential fit alongside Pascal Siakam and newly acquired Ivica Zubac.”
Jake Fischer on the Indiana Pacers and Cameron Boozer
Related: 2026 NBA Mock Draft, Projecting Lottery Picks Before March Madness
Indiana is currently just trying to ensure that it will have a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. As part of the Ivica Zubac trade, the team agreed to deal its 2026 first-rounder to the Los Angeles Clippers if it falls between picks five and nine.
If the Pacers were to be jumped in the lottery and slide to the fifth spot, the pick would head to Los Angeles. Otherwise, based on the NBA standings right now, Indiana is in a position to retain its first as long as it doesn’t get jumped by multiple teams in the lottery.
Entering March Madness, Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson and BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa were largely viewed as the two likeliest prospects to be taken with the first overall pick.
Boozer, the son of former All-Star Carlos Boozer, earned consensus first-team All-American honors and was named The Sporting News Player of the Year as an 18-year-old freshman at Duke. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game during the season and put up a 22-point, 12-rebound performance in the comeback win over 16th-seeded Siena.
Boozer’s offensive skill set, including his vision and basketball IQ, does seem like a natural fit for what Pacers coach Rick Carlisle wants. However, Dybantsa offers the highest ceiling of all prospects, and many believe that Peterson could pair well alongside Tyrese Haliburton.
Obviously, this is all dependent on Indiana winning the 2026 NBA Draft lottery, and even then, the pre-draft process could change things. Boozer is also an elite prospect, but teams picking second and third overall would presumably be elated if Dybantsa and Peterson were still available after the first pick is made.
