No team has had a bigger drop-off from last season than the Indiana Pacers, who are without star Tyrese Haliburton for the entire season. Obviously, after making the NBA Finals and coming within a win of a championship, it's hard for Pacers fans to see their team currently just 3-16.
Fortunately for Pacers fans, there is a massive silver lining: the team is currently tied for the worst record in the NBA. If that holds, then that would give them a 40.1% chance at a top-3 pick and a 40.1% chance at landing one of the three top draft prospects in this draft class.
AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cam Boozer headline the 2026 NBA Draft and each have multi-time all-star potential, with one even being compared to Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady. NBA analyst Kevin O'Conner recently compared Dybantsa to McGrady, and the Pacers could very well be in a position to draft him.
AJ Dybantsa looks like Tracy McGrady pic.twitter.com/Tbaj3d5wFm
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) November 16, 2025
Putting an athletic 6-10 wing who can score and defend at a high level on the Pacers would give Indiana an embarrassment of riches when fully healthy.
The Indiana Pacers' gap year could land them a superstar
Imagine adding one of those three prospects to the core that came within a game of winning the NBA Finals. Having a healthy Haliburton will go a long way to getting the Pacers back into contention with them still having Pascal Siakam. Meanwhile, Ben Mathurin appears to have taken a major step forward.
Now, add, say, Dybantsa to the mix, and the Pacers would suddenly look scary a year removed from making the NBA Finals.
Even Peterson or Boozer would be great consolation prizes and possibly give them a foundational building block.
The Pacers historically have built through the draft. And even though they have rarely been one of the worst teams in the NBA, getting a high pick could be franchise altering.
If Indy lands Dybantsa, Peterson, or Boozer, and that player quickly develops into a star, they could have a big four that has the talent to win a championship without breaking the bank. That's important because Mathurin is a restricted free agent after this season, meaning the Pacers could sign him to a favorable long-term deal.
Haliburton has three remaining years on his contract, and Siakam has two, and whoever they draft in the lottery would be on a cheap four-year contract. That would have at least a two-year window with Haliburton, Siakam, Mathurin, and Dybantsa, Peterson, or Boozer and a clear path back to contention after suffering through this season.