Overview
- NBA insider Jake Fischer reports AJ Dybantsa is viewed by many teams as the current favorite to be drafted first overall in 2026.
- Rival teams expect the Pacers could select Duke forward Cameron Boozer at No. 1 if they win the lottery due to perceived roster fit with Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac.
- Indiana’s 2026 first‑rounder conveys to the Clippers only if it lands between picks 5 and 9, making lottery placement pivotal for the Pacers’ draft calculus.
- Dybantsa logged 35 points and 10 rebounds in BYU’s first‑round NCAA loss to Texas, while Boozer posted 22 points and 13 boards in Duke’s comeback win over Siena.
- Evaluations remain fluid as teams weigh Darryn Peterson’s missed time and cramping concerns and Caleb Wilson’s hand injuries, with some executives open to Wilson in the top three.