If the Indiana Pacers are lucky enough to keep their pick in this year's draft (but are unlucky to get No. 1 and land AJ Dybantsa, who many think will be the first player taken off the board), it's likely going to be a debate between Kansas guard Darryn Peterson and Duke forward Cameron Boozer. And for the sake of this conversation, we'll assume Indiana gets the second pick.
Boozer might be a safer pick than Peterson. He is more polished as an all-around player, doesn't have the injury concerns Peterson does, has high basketball IQ, and will likely have an easier time fitting in with an NBA team because of all these things.
However, Peterson arguably has the highest ceiling of all the top prospects in this draft (which is saying a lot). He has All-NBA talent and would probably immediately start for the Pacers. It may be a riskier decision, but Indiana can afford to take that risk.
Ultimately, the Pacers can't lose as long as they get to keep the pick. But if it comes down to it, drafting Peterson or Boozer may be a better long-term move.
Darryn Peterson would be fantastic for the Pacers
To be clear, I still think Dybantsa is the best player in this draft and would be the dream addition for Indiana. But if the lotto balls don't go in their favor, Peterson wouldn't be a bad consolation prize.
For starters, there is a legitimate case for the Kansas guard as the best player in the draft this year. His shot-creating is elite, and he can score on all three levels at a high rate. In college this season, Peterson averaged 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 43.8% from the field and 38.2% from deep in 24 games.
We didn't get to see as much of Peterson as we hoped for, but what we saw from him was fantastic.
He has his flaws (durability concerns, leadership concerns, not much of a defender or playmaker, and is inconsistent), but it's clear that he can hoop. And if he can iron all these out at the next level, he can be a legitimate star. (Not to mention he might quickly be good enough to kick Andrew Nembhard out of the starting lineup. Just saying.)
Plus, with the Pacers specifically, he could help fill that iso-scoring void they created when they traded Bennedict Mathurin to the Los Angeles Clippers. Peterson can take a lot of pressure off of guys like Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam offensively, and that would be a win on its own.
Cameron Boozer might be great, but he's not the ideal pick for the Pacers
I also feel like I need to clarify one thing: I really like Boozer. He was named the Men's AP Player of the Year, and it's easy to see why. In 38 games at Duke, he averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds (which led the ACC), 4.1 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 55.6% from the field and 39.1% from deep.
He can rebound. He can shoot. He can facilitate and make some plays. And he is a very smart player who can contribute to winning basketball. If the Pacers end up with him, it will still be worth a celebration. But is he a better pick than Peterson? I don't think so.
For starters, Boozer might have the lowest ceiling of any of the top prospects because of his lack of athleticism and rim protection, which are his two biggest flaws. And in Indiana specifically, it would be tough for him to be anything more than a backup with players like Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac likely manning the frontcourt for at least a few years to come.
Sure, Boozer can play, and he might be successful right away. But what's beautiful about the Pacers' standing right now is that they don't need to hit on their draft pick, if they even get it back in the first place. They're still going to be championship contenders right away, and they'll still have a bright future. And that's exactly why they should be fine with playing the higher-risk, higher-reward game in June by taking Peterson over him.