The Indiana Pacers acquired center Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers with the goal of reaping the rewards next season.
The Pacers also acquired little-used wing Kobe Brown while sending Benedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson to Los Angeles. In addition, the Clippers received three draft picks, but the situation is different. If the Pacers take No. 1-4 or No. 10-30 in this summer’s NBA draft, the Pacers will retain that pick, deferring the Clippers’ pick to 2031. If Indiana picks No. 5-9 during the draft lottery, Los Angeles will receive the 2026 pick.
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Zubac should help Indiana improve its interior defense. He was a second-team All-Defensive selection last season and averaged double digits in rebounds per game. His offense is strictly around the rim, but the Pacers have Jay Huff as a change-of-tempo outside threat.
The Pacers believe their center tandem, Tyrese Haliburton’s return from injury and a core that includes Pascal Siakam, Andre Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith will propel them back into contention. Additionally, Jarace Walker, Obi Toppin and TJ McConnell are expected to return in the 2026-27 season.
NBA Draft Results: Pacers trade Ivica Zubac for Benedict Maturin
“At this point, he’s a better player than Turner was last season, even though he’s a completely different style. Indiana is going to have to adjust to a center who doesn’t shoot 3s because that spacing means a lot for their offense. Zubac isn’t an obvious fit in Indiana’s up-tempo system because of his pro career. He spent most of his career with the slow, dull Clippers, however, his elite passing and screening should fit like a glove in (coach) Rick Carlisle’s freewheeling offense, and his excellent floater would be a great end-game release valve for an offense that doesn’t have a typical one-on-one shooter.”
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Doyer: Pacers’ dream scenario — Zubac now, top-3 pick later
“Zubac’s production has declined this season and his blocks have decreased. He was still an above-average starting center in his prime (he will turn 29 in March, one year younger than Turner), and he signed a favorable contract that will pay him an average salary of less than $20 million through the 2027-28 season. The addition of Zubac gives Indiana back a rock-solid starting five that should be able to compete for a spot in the Eastern Conference next spring.”
“What a great trade the Clippers made and an extremely reckless trade the Pacers made. Zubac is really good, but an unprotected 2029 first-round pick should be enough for him. Including the top four protected 2026 first-round picks, like If it lands in the protected area, it becomes an unprotected 2031 first-round pick, which is incomprehensible and would be a real steal for a Clippers team that’s going nowhere. The Pacers better pray if Indiana doesn’t make it in 2026. If you win the lottery in 2019, it’s probably one of the worst deals.”
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“Indiana has been desperate to find a big man to replace Myles Turner, who left for Milwaukee last summer. The Pacers have done just that and actually upgraded from what Turner gave them.”
“Zubac may need some stylistic changes from Rick Carlisle. He’s not the stretch center that Myles Turner was in the Finals, and he’s not the fastest guy in the world. If any coach can figure that out, it’s Carlisle. At the end of the day, it’s a costly game of great talent.”
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Dustin Dopilak has played all season for the Pacers. Get more coverage with IndyStarTV and the Pacers Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared in the Indianapolis Star: NBA Draft Grades: Pacers trade Ivica Zubac for Benedict Maturin
