Indiana Pacers (Image Credits: Imagn)

Indiana Pacers Reportedly Eyeing Surprise No. 1 Pick Choice That Could Shake Up Draft Night

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Afshan Khan | Last updated Mar 20, 2026 4:49 PM ET

The excitement for the 2026 NBA Draft is reaching new heights. With the Draft Lottery approaching on May 10, the race for the coveted first overall pick remains wide open. However, the buzz is already building, especially with the Indiana Pacers stirring the pot with their potential strategies.

Fans are keenly watching a trio of standout talents: Darryn Peterson from Kansas, AJ Dybansta from BYU, and Cam Boozer from Duke. While many are predicting that Peterson or Dybansta could snag the top spot, whispers suggest the Pacers might be eyeing Boozer as their No. 1 choice.

“No one in the NBA that I’ve consulted projects any sort of dramatic draft night fall for either Peterson or Boozer. When 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,” Via Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.

The Indiana Pacers would reportedly consider drafting Cam Boozer No. 1, per @JakeLFischer

“No one in the NBA that I’ve consulted projects any sort of dramatic draft night fall for either Peterson or Boozer. When it comes to Boozer, in fact, there is a sentiment among some rival… pic.twitter.com/ZgosJAGKpT
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 20, 2026

Boozer shone bright recently when the Duke Blue Devils faced off against the Siena Saints. With an impressive 38 minutes on the court, he racked up 22 points, dished out three assists, and grabbed 13 rebounds. His stellar performance guided Duke to a hard-fought 71-65 victory, stealing the show when it mattered most.

Pacers Hit with Devastating Injury News for Key Player

The 2025-26 NBA season has not begun well for the Pacers, and the news just got worse. With star player Tyrese Haliburton still sidelined by an ACL tear, the team is struggling at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Just when fans thought there couldn’t be more disappointment, a devastating update surfaced about standout center Ivica Zubac.

“Indiana Pacers center Ivica Zubac suffered a fractured rib and will miss the rest of the season, league sources confirmed to The Athletic on Friday. He sustained the injury in Indiana’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, the league sources said.” Via The Athletic.

Indiana Pacers Logo (Image Credits: Imagn)

Zubac’s night came to an abrupt end after just 23 minutes when he caught an elbow from Portland’s Donovan Clingan. This comes after he had played only five games since his trade due to an ankle injury. Now, a rib fracture will bench him for the remainder of the season. As for the Pacers, they’re already out of the playoff race, unable to qualify for the postseason.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: