In a recent episode of the "Game Theory Podcast," Sam Vecenie said he believes the Pacers should tank because it guarantees them a top-five pick and a young ideal fit next to Tyrese Haliburton in the 2026 NBA Draft.
"If I'm [the Pacers], I want to be as bad as possible this year," Vecenie said. "I'm 8-31, or whatever my record is, let's just lose as many games as possible [and] guarantee ourselves a top-five pick. I think all these guys work with their scheme basically ... they end up with [AJ] Dybantsa, great. If they end up with Darryn [Peterson], great. If they end up with Cam Boozer, great, awesome. If they end up with Caleb Wilson, perfect. Great fit. Any of those top-four guys are awesome fits within the scheme."
Nearly three months into the season, Indiana is 9-31 and owns the worst record in the Eastern Conference and the second-worst in the league.
Without Haliburton or Myles Turner, who joined the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency, the Pacers have looked like a shell of their 2024-25 selves. However, the future is still bright in Indiana, and there are reasons to believe it will re-establish itself as a legitimate title contender as soon as next season.
After making it to back-to-back conference finals and being one win away from an NBA title last year, the Pacers' performance this season is not a welcoming sight for the fanbase. However, with each loss comes a silver lining, and it might ultimately be what's best for the team in the long run.
The 2026 NBA Draft could be huge for the Pacers
If there was ever one year for Indiana to take a step back and rank near the bottom of the league standings, it's this one.
The 2026 NBA Draft is shaping up to be one of the best in recent years with a clear-cut four top players who could all be franchise guys. BYU's AJ Dybantsa, Duke's Cam Boozer, and Kansas' Darryn Peterson all have a legitimate case to be selected first overall this year. And all three of them could be game-changers for the Pacers.
Additionally, Caleb Wilson of UNC is putting together a fantastic season. If the Pacers were to land him, there wouldn't be many complaints.
There is a lot to like about the Pacers' long-term outlook. They have one of the best front offices and coaching staffs in the league, and they have an incredibly talented roster.
This season has been a nightmare for the team, but they should be able to make some noise in a wide-open Eastern Conference once they get their All-NBA guard back (and potentially add a player like Dybantsa, Boozer, or Peterson to the mix).
There is still a lot of basketball left on the schedule this season. But if the Pacers stay near the bottom of the standings, that may actually help them in the long run more than anybody might realize.