Social media reaction to Pacers losing first-round pick: Devastation, fix was in, pain

TL;DR

The Pacers lost their first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft to the Clippers after it fell to No. 5. This disappointment has sparked strong reactions on social media, highlighting the team's struggles and fan frustration.

Key points

Pacers lost their first-round pick to the Clippers
The pick fell to No. 5 after being top-four protected
Pacers do not have a second-round pick

PacersLos Angeles Clippers2026 NBA Draft

The Pacers' lottery pick went to the Los Angeles Clippers after it fell to No. 5. The pick was top four protected as part of the Ivica Zubac trade but Chicago, Memphis and Utah jumped Indiana. The Pacers also don't have a second-round pick, having previously traded that pick. The Grizzlies hold what was the Pacers' No. 32 pick. Here is how social media reacted to the Pacers not getting their first-round pick:

Pacers lose a top-four pick in the deepest draft in 30 years. This is devastation, I don’t care how brave a face the team has been trying to put on it.

And I’m furious #columncoming

— Gregg Doyel (@GreggDoyelStar) May 10, 2026 Ya know what…

I think Dybantsa, Petersen, Boozer, Wilson and all these young guys are overrated anyway . . . . . . . . . (no I don’t)

— Nick Yeoman (@NYeoman) May 10, 2026 At the end of the day, it was still barely over a 50/50 shot, but yes, insanely disappointing that it didn’t go their way.

— Derek Schultz (@Schultz975) May 10, 2026 Pacers pic.twitter.com/CXm0ZGjySv

— Bucks Breakdown (@Bucks\_Breakdown) May 10, 2026 The Pacers basically traded the #5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft for Zubac

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) May 10, 2026 Pacers fans after going 19-63 just to lose their first round pick pic.twitter.com/OJhEuRxamr

— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) You knew the fix was in when Adam Silver fined the Pacers. You can't convince me otherwise, sorry.

Q&A

Why did the Pacers lose their first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft?

The Pacers lost their first-round pick because it fell to No. 5, which was top-four protected as part of the Ivica Zubac trade.

What are the implications of the Pacers not having a second-round pick?

The Pacers' lack of a second-round pick means they will miss out on additional talent in a deep draft, as they previously traded that pick to the Grizzlies.

How did social media react to the Pacers losing their first-round pick?

Social media reactions included expressions of devastation, frustration over the team's performance, and accusations of unfairness in the lottery process.