Jeff Teague Has Draft Advice For The Pacers: Take Boozer, Not Dybantsa

The 2026 NBA Draft is widely projected to be a loaded class, and as such, there’s no shortage of debates on which talented young prospect should go first, second, and so on.

For the Indiana Pacers, the dilemma could be well worth it as they have great odds to land the No. 1 pick. It’s a major decision for the Pacers, and they’re sure to receive plenty of unsolicited advice from fans and pundits alike.

One analyst who has a suggestion for the Pacers front office is Jeff Teague. On an episode of his “Club 520” podcast, Teague argued that the Pacers should take Duke’s Cam Boozer over BYU’s AJ Dybantsa.

“Tyrese Haliburton is your star,” Teague said of the Pacers. “AJ Dybantsa comes, he’s not your star no more. Even though he’ll be a perennial All-Star, Tyrese Haliburton is a really good player. Cam Boozer fits the mode of blending in with our star.”

Teague, a native of Indianapolis, emphasized the importance of meshing personalities by drawing an example from his hometown’s NFL team.

“We have trouble in Indiana with outgoing, big personalities. Like, you look at the Colts, Peyton Manning was a low personality. He just did his job…He became more popular after he retired. We started falling in love like, damn, Peyton funny. You didn’t know that when Peyton played unless you were on his team.”

Teague’s advice certainly goes against conventional wisdom. As early as last year, the 6-foot-9 Dybantsa had been fancied by draft experts as the top overall pick in the 2026 class. An athletic forward with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, Dybantsa is a high-leaping, fleet-footed scorer who also stays committed on the defensive end.

Though Dybantsa has had scouts salivating for a long time now, Teague believes that Boozer (the offspring of former Olympic gold medalist Carlos Boozer) is a better fit for the Pacers. Boozer, who also stands 6-foot-9, is a highly physical big man who wreaks havoc in the shaded lane. He’d be a great partner for Haliburton as he can run the floor and operate the pick-and-roll with proficiency.

The Pacers have other options, of course; Kansas’ Darryn Peterson also has a compelling case as a top draft pick. Teague’s hometown team will have to consider all these prospects carefully if they want to keep Haliburton happy and lay the foundation for future success.