No group has had an even bigger drop-off from final season than the Indiana Pacers, who’re with out star Tyrese Haliburton for the complete season. Clearly, after making the NBA Finals and coming inside a win of a championship, it is laborious for Pacers followers to see their group at present simply 3-16.
Fortuitously for Pacers followers, there’s a huge silver lining: the group is at present tied for the worst document within the NBA. If that holds, then that may give them a 40.1% likelihood at a top-3 decide and a 40.1% likelihood at touchdown one of many three high draft prospects on this draft class.
AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cam Boozer headline the 2026 NBA Draft and every have multi-time all-star potential, with one even being in comparison with Corridor of Famer Tracy McGrady. NBA analyst Kevin O’Conner not too long ago in contrast Dybantsa to McGrady, and the Pacers might very nicely be able to draft him.
AJ Dybantsa seems to be like Tracy McGrady pic.twitter.com/Tbaj3d5wFm
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnor) November 16, 2025
Placing an athletic 6-10 wing who can rating and defend at a excessive degree on the Pacers would give Indiana a humiliation of riches when totally wholesome.
The Indiana Pacers‘ hole yr might land them a celebrity
Think about including a type of three prospects to the core that got here inside a sport of profitable the NBA Finals. Having a wholesome Haliburton will go an extended approach to getting the Pacers again into rivalry with them nonetheless having Pascal Siakam. In the meantime, Ben Mathurin seems to have taken a significant step ahead.
Now, add, say, Dybantsa to the combination, and the Pacers would all of a sudden look scary a yr faraway from making the NBA Finals.
Even Peterson or Boozer can be nice comfort prizes and probably give them a foundational constructing block.
The Pacers traditionally have constructed by means of the draft. And although they’ve not often been one of many worst groups within the NBA, getting a excessive decide could possibly be franchise altering.
If Indy lands Dybantsa, Peterson, or Boozer, and that participant shortly develops right into a star, they might have an enormous 4 that has the expertise to win a championship with out breaking the financial institution. That is essential as a result of Mathurin is a restricted free agent after this season, that means the Pacers might signal him to a positive long-term deal.
Haliburton has three remaining years on his contract, and Siakam has two, and whoever they draft within the lottery can be on an affordable four-year contract. That may have at the very least a two-year window with Haliburton, Siakam, Mathurin, and Dybantsa, Peterson, or Boozer and a transparent path again to rivalry after struggling by means of this season.
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