The Indiana Pacers lost their No. 5 pick in the NBA Draft due to a trade deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. Tyrese Haliburton and others reacted to the disappointing outcome.
Key points
Pacers had the best odds for the No. 1 pick
Pacers won only 19 games last season
Clippers will pick at No. 5 due to lottery success
The Indiana Pacers won just 19 games this past season after being on the brink of a title last June. But they'll have little to show for their disappointing record.
After coming into the 2026 NBA Draft lottery tied for the best odds at the No. 1 pick, instead, the Pacers were forced to give their first-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of a trade deadline deal made in February.
The Clippers, even after making the Play-In Tournament and dealing with the Kawhi Leonard controversy all season, will be picking at No. 5 overall thanks to their lottery fortune. And as it all played out on Sunday, everybody from NBA fans to Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers'Ā president of basketball operations reacted.
Here's a look at how Indiana gave its pick to the Clippers along with reactions from the Pacers' lost pick on social media.
The Pacers appeared to have strong odds at a top-4 selection in this year's class, considered one of the deepest in the last few years. With 14.0 percent odds at the No. 1 pick, tied for the best, Indiana had good reason to feel confident in securing an elite young star after a lost 2025-26 season.
Q&A
Why did the Pacers lose their No. 5 pick in the NBA Draft?
The Pacers lost their No. 5 pick because they had to give it to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of a trade deal made during the February trade deadline.
What was Tyrese Haliburton's reaction to the Pacers losing the pick?
Tyrese Haliburton, along with other NBA fans, reacted to the Pacers' loss of the No. 5 pick, expressing disappointment over the outcome.
What trade led to the Clippers acquiring the Pacers' pick?
The Clippers acquired the Pacers' pick as part of a trade deal made in February, which involved the Ivica Zubac transaction.
How did the Clippers end up with the No. 5 pick in the NBA Draft?
The Clippers ended up with the No. 5 pick after winning the lottery, despite having made the Play-In Tournament and dealing with season controversies.
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But at the 2026 trade deadline, the Pacers also gambled with their pick a bit. Already knowing by February that their season was heading toward the top of the lottery odds, the Pacers eyed 2026-27 contention by acquiring a starting center, Ivica Zubac, from the Clippers. While he's set to start alongside Pascal Siakam in Indiana's 2026-27 frontcourt, the Pacers also took a big risk in the deal.
The Clippers acquired the Pacers' 2026 first-round pick, but it was protected from picks No. 1-4 and 10-30. That meant that if Indiana's pick landed in the top-4 or at No. 10 and beyond, the Pacers kept it. If it was between No. 5-9, the Clippers took it.
That gamble paid off for LA in a massive way. The Clippers got their best possible selection out of the trade, No. 5, and will now have the chance to add a potential young star alongside Kawhi Leonard, Darius Garland and company moving forward.
Kevin Pritchard apologizes for Pacers losing No. 5 pick
Indiana fans were naturally upset with their front office after losing a valuable draft pick in the lottery, and the face of the Pacers' basketball decisions owned up to his "risk."
Kevin Pritchard, the Pacers' president of basketball operations since 2017, posted on X and apologized to his fanbase for the lost No. 5 pick. He also emphasized the Zubac acquisition, which should impact the team next season.
"I'm really sorry to all our fans. I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year," Pritchard wrote. "I thought we were due some luck. But please remember - this team deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year. We have always been resilient."
I'm really sorry to all our fans. I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year. I thought we were due some luck. But please remember - this team deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year. We have always been resilient.
In essence, following the 2026 lottery results, the Pacers acquired Zubac and Brown in exchange for Mathurin, Jackson, the No. 5 pick this year, their unprotected 2029 first-rounder and a second-rounder. Had the Pacers kept their pick this year, Indiana would've sent LA its unprotected first-round pick in 2031.
In hindsight, the deal already appears to heavily favor the Clippers, thanks to the lottery luck. Zubac is considered one of the NBA's steadiest centers ā he's a nightly double-double threat, averaging 14.1 points and 10.6 rebounds last season ā bringing size to both ends of the floor. But he's not an All-Star level center, and the Pacers paid a price of two first-rounders, including a top-5 pick, to land him.
Nevertheless, Zubac should be a strong fit for Indiana's roster next season as the team looks to bounce back as Haliburton returns. But the Clippers almost certainly are feeling good about the February 2026 trade, armed with the No. 5 pick in a loaded draft class.
Tyrese Haliburton, social media react to Pacers' lost pick
Haliburton has been fairly active on social media throughout the 2025-26 season as he's been sidelined due to injury. That was no different on Lottery day, with the Pacers needing some luck.
Initially, Haliburton hyped up the Pacers' lottery representative on Sunday, T.J. McConnell.
Haliburton wasn't alone in the Pacers' disappointment. Many on social media questioned Indiana's risk assessment in the Zubac deal, questioning why the Pacers would risk losing their first-rounder this season to acquire the center.
The Pacers front office made a huge mistake, damn.
The Pacers TANKED all season forā¦ Ivica Zubac š¬
They didnāt land their lottery pick because of the trade. What a meltdownā¦ pic.twitter.com/lSR6oaEnyG
ā Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) May 10, 2026
On the other side of things, Clippers fans had a lot to celebrate. After all the franchise's difficulties this season, including a 6-21 start, Leonard's Aspiration scandal, Chris Paul's exit, the James Harden deal and more, L.A. got some fortunate with the No. 5 pick.
Clippers at #5 so intriguing, could go all over assuming the top 4 is AJ/DP/Booz/Caleb.
Have Garland, so do they pass on Acuff?
But he is the best available there?
Could go Kingston/Wagler to pair in backcourt.
Go for frontcourt?
WE GOT THE 5TH OVERALL PICK
WE GOT THE 5TH OVERALL PICK
WE GOT THE 5TH OVERALL PICK
WE GOT THE 5TH OVERALL PICK
WE GOT THE 5TH OVERALL PICK pic.twitter.com/7i77YEZl45
