INDIANAPOLIS — As the regular season winds down, more than a few teams are eager to close this chapter and move on to the next. Chief among those teams are the Indiana Pacers who are incredibly hopeful about the future despite owning a league-worst 17-58 record. The Pacers have the opportunity to land a Top 4 pick for the first time since 1988 when they selected Rik Smiths with the second overall pick out of Marist College.
Should Pacers Fans Be Concerned By Duke And Cam Boozer’s Collapse?
Jan 19, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) and guard T.J. McConnell (9) on the bench against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
According to senior NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Pacers have their eyes set on Duke Freshman Cam Boozer. “Rival teams anticipate the Indiana Pacers to take Cam Boozer if awarded the #1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Their pick may convey to the Clippers due to the Zubac trade,” Fischer revealed in a recent The Stein Line publication.
The Duke Blue Devils suffered a shocking exit in the Elite 8. They lost to the UConn Huskies on a deep deep three-pointer, throwing away a 19-point lead in the process. Cam Boozer was the best player on Duke last night as he led all scorers with 27 points. He went 10-of-21 (48%) from the field largely due to the defensive efforts of UConn big Tarris Reed. Reed has seen his draft stock rise massively during the Big East tournament and March Madness. Importantly, he gave us a peek into how Boozer matches up against larger, imposing bigs. The matchup rekindled familiar concerns about Boozer’s long term success in the NBA.
Boozer’s 6-foot-9, 250-pound frame has always given him a size advantage despite a lack of explosive vertical athleticism. Critics have argued that Boozer has always dominated at every level due to his physicality and he will get overwhelmed once he gets to the NBA. Those concerns seemed to be validated in part in this game as he at times struggled against Reed’s physicality.
So should Pacers fans be concerned about Cam Boozer?
No. It’s important to put this performance into context. Boozer did lead all scorers against tough defensive schemes. That bodes well for his future at the next level. He impacts the game at a high level despite facing adversity. A cursory glance at his box score buttresses this point. He stuffed the stats sheet with eight board (five Offensive rebounds), four assists and two blocks.
Also, it’s important to remember that this Duke team was not a prolific three-point shooting team, shooting just 34.7% from behind the arc. On the Pacers, Boozer will play with teammates that shoot the three-ball better. That will help open the floor up for him, giving him more space to work with. This will help him against elite defenders in his position. So, this collapse shouldn’t worry Pacers fans. Infact, this could be a blessing in disguise for a player so used to winning at every level. As the popular saying goes, “what doesn’t break you makes you stronger.”
Credit:© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images