Darryn Peterson's 'Dream' Landing Spot Explained by Insider Ahead of 2026 NBA Draft Lottery

Kansas guard Darryn Peterson has long been projected as one of the top prospects in the 2026 NBA draft, and it sounds like an ideal landing spot for him has already emerged.

ESPN's Jeremy Woo explained why the Indiana Pacers would be the best fit for Peterson in this year's draft.

"Peterson is a No. 1-caliber talent and an excellent value if he's on the board at No. 2, but he would be a particularly strong fit in Indiana. He's the most dynamic shooter in the draft and would greatly benefit from playing alongside Tyrese Haliburton, one of the league's most unselfish players," Woo stated. "Haliburton could get Peterson clean looks, while also giving him space to develop as an on-ball playmaker. That dream pairing would have immense offensive potential, assuming Haliburton is back to full strength in time (torn Achilles), and could evolve into one of the NBA's best backcourts."

According to Woo, the Pacers have a 52.1 percent chance to land a top-four pick in the draft lottery. If their selection falls out of the top four, it will convey to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of this season's trade for center Ivica Zubac.

In his lone year at Kansas, Peterson averaged 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds. The sharpshooter connected on 43.8 percent of his field goals and 38.2 percent of his three-pointers. B/R's Jonathan Wasserman predicted in his mock draft that the Brooklyn Nets would use the No. 2 pick to select Peterson, which would undoubtedly leave many in Indiana disappointed.

Adding Peterson would certainly help the Pacers quickly return to title contention following their forgettable 2025-26 season, so Indiana will be anxiously waiting to see if it secures a top-four selection in this year's draft.