If the Indiana Pacers get lucky in the draft lottery next month and get their first-round pick back, they need to decide whether their rookie will come off the bench or start right away.

This year’s draft class is loaded, particularly at the top. AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson all have All-NBA potential, and if Indiana can get its hands on any of them, it will be worthy of a celebration. However, the team is also in an interesting spot.

Unlike most lottery teams, they will actually have (realistic) championship aspirations for the 2026-27 season. They are going to have an incredibly talented roster with most of their core still intact from last year’s finals run, and they may not have the room for a rookie in their starting lineup.

On the other hand, though, whoever the Pacers end up with in the draft (hypothetically) will be NBA-ready and might only help the team’s championship odds the more he plays.

The Pacers may have a decision to make, and it’s up to them to figure it out if the time comes.

The Pacers might have a rookie problem on their hands next season

In a recent episode of the “Locked On Pacers” podcast, Tony East mentioned that, in the past 10 years, only four NBA players were drafted in the top five, played at least 65 games, and started less than half of them (Dylan Harper, Ron Holland, Kris Dunn, and Jaylen Brown).

If it comes down to it, Indiana might find itself doing the same this upcoming season. Let’s go down the list:

Dybantsa — arguably the best player in this year’s class because of his elite athleticism and ability to impact the game at every level as a wing. But he is not likely to start over Aaron Nesmith, who is an established starting small forward on this Pacers roster and is likely a better fit in the lineup because of his 3-and-D abilities.

Peterson — elite shot creator who would be an excellent fit next to Haliburton in the backcourt. But are the Pacers going to bench Andrew Nembhard for a rookie after the season he had? Probably not. Plus, Indiana desperately needs a go-to shot creator off the bench after it traded Bennedict Mathurin, and the Kansas guard may be that guy.

Boozer — incredibly smart basketball player who would be an unbelievable fit in Indiana because of his ability to space the floor, rebound, and playmake at a high level. He’s also not starting over Pascal Siakam or Ivica Zubac. This one is obvious.

Wilson — basically everything I wrote about Dybantsa applies here, only it’s even more obvious because Wilson isn’t as polished offensively and would benefit the most from coming off the bench right away.

But at the same time, all of these players have a chance to blossom into something special, and they need the opportunity to play real minutes to reach their potential (see: Jarace Walker). If the Pacers ultimately get their pick back, it will be a fantastic development. But it would also come with its own problems that the team will need to work out to maximize their championship window.

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