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What Indiana Pacers' roster path looks like after losing their 2026 pick
TL;DR
The Indiana Pacers are facing limited options after losing their 2026 first-round pick, as they traded both their 2026 and 2029 picks. This situation constrains their ability to make trades until 2031, pushing them towards a win-now strategy.
Key points
- Indiana Pacers lost their 2026 first-round pick
- Traded both 2026 and 2029 picks for Ivica Zubac
- Cannot move unprotected first-round pick until 2031
- Only 2031 and 2033 picks can be traded this summer
- Focus on win-now trades expected
Indiana Pacers
What Indiana Pacers' roster path looks like after losing their 2026 pick originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The fallout from the 2026 lottery leaves the Indiana Pacers in a more constrained position than a single missed selection suggests. Because the franchise traded both its 2026 and 2029 first-rounders in the deal that brought Ivica Zubac to Indianapolis, Evan Sidery reported on X that Indiana cannot move an unprotected first-round pick until 2031.
The full picks they can legally move this summer are the 2031 and 2033 selections. That structure, combined with the lottery outcome, makes their options narrow. A win-now trade in the coming months is now widely expected to be the front office's primary direction.
Teams considering a trade with Indiana this offseason will quickly notice that the Pacers have almost nothing in the short-to-medium range to offer in terms of draft compensation.
Indiana's win-now pivot depends on Haliburton returning healthy and ready next season
Assuming they remain healthy and capable of competing, the Pacers' core is solid. Tyrese Haliburton, the guard who averaged 18.6 points and 9.2 assists per game before tearing his Achilles in last year's Finals, is expected to return to full action next season.
Q&A
What happened to the Indiana Pacers' 2026 pick?
The Indiana Pacers lost their 2026 first-round pick due to a trade that also involved their 2029 pick.
When can the Pacers trade their first-round picks again?
The Pacers cannot move an unprotected first-round pick until 2031, limiting their trade options.
What is the expected strategy for the Pacers after losing their 2026 pick?
The Pacers are expected to pursue a win-now trade strategy in the coming months due to their constrained draft options.