NBA Draft: trade for Zubac proves costly for the Pacers
Indiana lost its gamble on the Ivica Zubac trade: the pick fell outside the top four and now goes directly to the Clippers
The night of the NBA Draft Lottery turned into the worst possible nightmare for the Indiana Pacers. Despite finishing with the league’s second-worst record after a season ravaged by injuries – most notably Tyrese Haliburton’s torn Achilles tendon – luck did not favor Indiana.
The pick slid to No. 5, falling outside the top-four protection and going straight to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Zubac trade: a heavy all-in move
The pick changing hands is the consequence of the deal made at February’s trade deadline. To acquire Ivica Zubac, the Pacers sent out their 2026 first-round pick (protected only 1-4), their 2029 first-rounder, plus Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson.
An aggressive move that now, with the Lottery rewarding the Clippers, looks like an extremely expensive gamble. With a mix of disappointment and realism, franchise president Kevin Pritchard addressed the media in Chicago after the draft order was set, defending his vision.
We’re all disappointed, we wanted that pick. But in this league, you can’t wait for success and hope it comes slowly. You have to take a swing. We had a huge hole at center, and Zubac was the perfect fit for our structure. To win a title, we needed that piece, and we couldn’t get him by protecting the pick through No. 10
Kevin Pritchard
A message to the fans
Aware of the social media backlash, Pritchard used Twitter and his media availability to offer both an apology and a message of optimism.
I apologize to the fans, my heart was pounding like it was Game 7. I take responsibility for the risk, but we remain an organization capable of finding solutions. Our starting lineup is solid, and I like our bench. We’re resilient
Kevin Pritchard
The verdict in Chicago turns the Zubac trade from a tactical move into a case study in risk management. Kevin Pritchard chose not to play the waiting game, sacrificing the upside of a top-five pick for the certainty of a reliable center ahead of Haliburton’s return.
If the Pacers bounce right back into the top four of the East next season, the No. 5 pick will be little more than a statistical footnote. But if that leap never comes, the void left in the team’s rebuilding process could weigh heavily on the future of Indianapolis.