The Indiana Pacers are in the running for the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft. But even if they don't win the lottery, they could still have a chance to draft who many consider to be the best prospect: Kansas guard Darryn Peterson.
According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, "at least one top talent evaluator" of a team in the running for the No. 1 overall pick said they wouldn't draft Peterson with the first pick due to him "having too many question marks."
"Says at least one top talent evaluator whose team will be in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick via the draft lottery in May: "I wouldn't take [Kansas' Darryn] Peterson with the first pick. Too many question marks,'" Stein wrote. "A sentiment we presumably haven't heard for the last time thanks to Peterson's intermittent availability for the Jayhawks."
Additionally, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic shared some of that same sentiment in his latest 2026 NBA Mock Draft.
"Unsurprisingly, when I speak with NBA scouts and executives, the question as to what’s going on with Peterson’s injuries and the yo-yo nature of his availability arises. It’s a question that evaluators need answered before selecting Peterson at the top of the draft. What exactly are the injuries? Is it a long-term concern? Is it an issue of mentality and comfort playing through minor injuries? Is this all much ado about nothing, and will we all look back on Peterson’s career and think this was silly?" Vecenie wrote.
Peterson has played in just 18 games for the Jayhawks this season, and he is consistently in and out of the lineups for mostly unknown reasons.
As Vecenie wrote, it's unclear whether he is dealing with injuries or doesn't want to be on the court for whatever reason (one theory being thrown out is that Peterson doesn't want to risk getting injured and plummeting his draft stock. Ultimately, nobody really knows besides him). However, the Ohio native is also incredibly talented and makes his presence felt whenever he is on the court.
Many believe Peterson is the best player in this loaded draft class, and it's hard to dispute that. This season, he is averaging 19.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting 46.5% from the field and 40.3% from deep in 27.6 minutes per game. He is a fantastic shot creator who can score in every level, and he can truly excel in any situation.
And that is exactly why the Pacers, if given the chance, may have no choice but to take Peterson this year...and it may be more realistic than anybody ever expected.
Darryn Peterson would be great for the Pacers
In theory, drafting anybody with as many question marks as Peterson does is risky. It's unclear how well he would be able to handle the NBA, and in a class like this one, it might make more sense to make a safer pick since you're going to get an incredibly talented player anyway.
But in Indiana's case, the reward far outweighs the risk.
The Pacers are going to be title contenders next season, regardless of what happens in the draft. Their pick could go to the Los Angeles Clippers (which will happen if it falls between the 5-9 range), and they would still be in a great spot to compete for a championship. But drafting someone like Peterson would just be the cherry on top.
Peterson would be a fantastic addition to the Pacers as someone who can create his own shot and take a lot of pressure off guys like Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. And in many ways, his best chance at succeeding in the NBA is to play more shooting guard because of his lack of playmaking skills.
The Pacers may have a big choice to make during the draft this year. But if the latest rumors are true, they may end up selecting the best player in the class no matter what happens.