New NBA Draft Rumors on Cameron Boozer Being Potential 'Preferred' No. 1 Pick for East Team
The Indiana Pacers reportedly may make a somewhat surprising selection if they end up with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, some rival teams believe Duke forward Cameron Boozer would be the Pacers' "preferred selection" even if they win the draft lottery and pick first.
While Boozer has been viewed as a likely top-five and possible top-three pick in the draft throughout the 2025-26 season, the primary debate for the No. 1 overall pick has been between Kansas' Darryn Peterson and BYU's AJ Dybantsa.
Per Fischer, it is thought that the Pacers covet Boozer partly because they feel he would be an ideal fit alongside forward Pascal Siakam and center Ivica Zubac in the frontcourt.
Peterson and Dybantsa were the two highest-rated recruits in the class of 2025 by 247Sports, but Boozer wasn't far behind in third, and he has shown throughout the 2025-26 campaign that he belongs in the same conversation.
Boozer is a semifinalist for the Naismith Men's College Basketball Player of the Year Award, and he may very well be the front-runner.
In 35 games for the No. 1-ranked Blue Devils, Boozer is averaging 22.5 points on 56.0 percent shooting from the field and 40.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc to go along with 10.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 three-pointers made and 1.4 steals.
At 6'9" and 250 pounds, Boozer has been a physical force at the collegiate level, so the only real question is whether it will translate to the NBA against bigger and stronger players.
In his latest mock draft, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman projected Boozer to go second overall to the Washington Wizards, behind Dybantsa, but ahead of Peterson at No. 3 overall, which suggests he is indeed on the rise.
The Pacers made it all the way to Game 7 of the NBA Finals last season, but they have been among the worst teams in the league this season due to guard Tyrese Haliburton missing the entire year with a torn Achilles and center Myles Turner leaving to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency.
At 15-55, the Pacers have the worst record in the NBA, 1.5 games ahead of the Wizards and 2.5 games ahead of the Brooklyn Nets.
There is no guarantee that Indiana will win the lottery, but even if it doesn't, it could potentially still get Boozer at second or third overall.
Peterson, Dybantsa, Boozer and North Carolina's Caleb Wilson make up one of the most talented groups of NBA draft prospects in recent memory, and teams would likely be thrilled to land any of them.
