If the Indiana Pacers were going to be terrible, they sure got lucky in terms of which season it happened.
The 2026 NBA Draft is widely regarded as one of the most star-studded in recent memory, headlined by three potential stars. Duke's Cameron Boozer, BYU's AJ Dybantsa, and Kansas' Darryn Peterson all look like they could be great NBA players, and the Pacers would certainly be happy with any of them on the roster
Plus, with a potential top-four pick, the Pacers could find a transformative talent to join promising up-and-comers, especially guys like Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard.
The Pacers' rough season could help the team greatly in the long run
Indiana began the season with a 2-14 record and looks like one of the worst teams in the entire NBA. The team's -12.5 net rating is the third-worst in the NBA, according to Basketball-Reference.com. For some context, they were 12th and 10th-best in this category in the past two seasons, respectively.
Additionally, the Pacers' elite offense looks like a shell of its former self this season. They led the league in scoring in 2023-24 and were the seventh-best scoring team last season. Now, they are scoring just 110.1 points per game, which is currently the fourth-fewest in the NBA.
Given that Indiana was just in the NBA Finals in 2025, this is not a great spot for the team to be in. However, this might ultimately be a great development for them as they look to re-enter the title picture down the line.
The thing about the Pacers, though, is that they're not a bad team. It's not like they had two consecutive conference finals appearances and then fell off for no reason. Their downfall is most likely just temporary and for this season alone.
Indiana did lose Myles Turner in the offseason, which has proven to be a tough loss for the team as they still have to comfortably find a replacement for him. Plus, Tyrese Haliburton is out for the season due to an Achilles injury, and it remains to be seen how quickly he can return to form once he comes back, if he even does.
However, in theory, the Pacers still have a bright future. They have a young and talented team and one of the best head coaches and front offices in the league. Plus, it's a big benefit to them that they play in an Eastern Conference that still doesn't look all too threatening even during Indiana's down year. And now they are on pace for a top-three pick in next year's draft, which could open up some great opportunities for them.
This season is a lost one for the Pacers. They are not likely to be playoff contenders (though they may not want to be anyway), and they have dealt with a ton of injuries to key players throughout the start of the season. However, while they are dealing with their hardships for this season, it's important to remember that they have what it takes to make it back to the NBA Finals.
And another deep playoff run could be on the horizon sooner rather than later, especially if the lottery balls bounce in their favor after the season.