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Pacers' Ivica Zubac trade 1st-round pick backfired for Indiana, helped Clippers
TL;DR
The Indiana Pacers' trade for Ivica Zubac backfired, as they missed out on a valuable first-round pick. This move ultimately benefited the Los Angeles Clippers.
Key points
- Pacers traded for Ivica Zubac during the season
- Zubac was quickly shut down after the trade
- Pacers aimed to pair Zubac with Tyrese Haliburton
- Trade cost Pacers a valuable first-round draft pick
- 2026 NBA Draft is expected to be loaded
Indiana PacersLos Angeles ClippersIvica ZubacTyrese Haliburton
Pacers' Ivica Zubac trade 1st-round pick backfired for Indiana, helped Clippers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Indiana Pacers had a weird 2025-26 season, but they were clearly thinking toward next year with all their moves. They knew they wouldn't have superstar point guard Tyrese Haliburton, and so they basically had a one-year retool to undertake.
They showed that when they traded for Ivica Zubac in the middle of the season but then shut him down quickly. They want Zubac to be Haliburton's buddy in the pick-and-roll next season.
They also would've loved to have a high-ranking draft pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, which is loaded at the top.
They tried to make sure that happened as part of the Zubac trade, which included a top-four protected 2026 first-round pick going back to the Los Angeles Clippers.
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Q&A
Why did the Pacers trade for Ivica Zubac?
The Pacers traded for Ivica Zubac to prepare for the next season, aiming to pair him with Tyrese Haliburton in the pick-and-roll.
How did the Zubac trade affect the Pacers' draft position?
The trade for Zubac caused the Pacers to miss out on a high-ranking draft pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, which is expected to be strong.
What was the outcome of the Pacers' 2025-26 season?
The Pacers had a challenging 2025-26 season as they focused on retooling for the future without their star point guard, Tyrese Haliburton.