Let’s go back to the trade deadline and revisit the deal between the Clippers and the Pacers:
The Clippers sent out Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown;
The Pacers sent out Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a top-four protected first-round pick in 2026, an unprotected first-round pick in 2029, and a second-round pick in 2028.
With the 2026 draft lottery now settled, that protected pick turned into the No. 5 overall selection. Looking back, this trade is definitely worth a second look.
At the time of the trade, Zubac was playing at a high level, averaging 14.4 points and 11 rebounds per game with a 61.3% shooting percentage. His steady performance helped the Clippers go on a hot streak, making it surprising that they would trade away their interior anchor at that point.
On the Pacers’ side, the move was even more puzzling. Their goal for the season was to tank for a high draft pick, yet they traded away a 2026 pick while still losing games. The logic seemed contradictory. With a 52.1% chance of landing a top-four pick, it was essentially a gamble—and a half-baked one at that.
Now, the results are becoming clearer, though not in a favorable way. Zubac played only five games for the Pacers before suffering a season-ending injury, finishing with averages of 11.6 points and 7.2 rebounds. While those numbers look decent, they came from a small sample size, and the team remains in tanking mode with an uncertain future.
The bigger issue is fit. Is Zubac really the right center for the Pacers? Over the past two seasons, the Pacers thrived with a five-out, high-paced offense built on transition and spacing. Zubac, while talented in the paint, offers little floor spacing. So why would the Pacers trade for a center who doesn’t fit their system—especially after letting Myles Turner walk in free agency?
Turner, a ten-year veteran with the Pacers, was constantly in trade rumors but never left. He helped the team reach the Finals last season and was clearly a good fit. Yet, the Pacers let him sign a four-year, $107 million deal with the Bucks. The logic is hard to follow: they gave up a proven system-fit center, then traded a high-value first-round pick for a center who clashes with their style.
On the other side, the Clippers are now looking like winners, thanks to the lottery results. They received Mathurin, who just posted a career-best season with 17.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, and has remained steady since the trade. The Pacers moved him to avoid a costly extension, but the pressure is now on the Clippers to re-sign him at a reasonable price. If they can, the deal is a steal.
They also got Isaiah Jackson, who averaged 6.4 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Pacers but improved to 7.5 points and 4.6 rebounds with the Clippers, shooting an incredible 76.4% from the field. He’s not a star, but he’s a solid rim-running big who replaces Zubac’s skill set.
Then there are the draft assets: the No. 5 pick in 2026—the Clippers’ highest pick in 15 years—an unprotected first-rounder in 2029, and a second-rounder in 2028. These picks, combined with young talent, allowed the Clippers to later acquire young point guard Darius Garland, suddenly transforming an aging roster into a youthful one.
So where does that leave us? If Tyrese Haliburton returns healthy and Zubac can adapt to the Pacers’ system, the trade could still work out. But if the fit fails and the draft picks turn into high-impact rookies for the Clippers, the Pacers will regret this deal.
After the lottery results, how do you evaluate this trade between the Pacers and the Clippers?