Pacers Adding Ivica Zubac As Clippers Clean House

"According to ESPN's Shams Charania, The Stein Line's Jake Fischer, and ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel, the Pacers are adding All-Defensive Team center Ivica Zubac and deep bench forward Kobe Brown in exchange for restricted free agent shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin, center Isaiah Jackson, a top-four and 10-30 protected Indiana first-rounder in 2026, an unprotected 2029 Pacers first, and the Dallas Mavericks' 2028 second-rounder."

"Fischer notes that LA will add the Pacers' unprotected 2031 first if the '26 selection isn't within the Nos. 5-9 picks this summer. A rotating door of middling center options hasn't cut it for the lowly Pacers, who have been looking to replace former 3-and-D starting five Myles Turner after he departed in free agency for the Milwaukee Bucks. Indiana has experimented with Jackson, Jay Huff, Tony Bradley, James Wiseman and Micah Potter at center this season."

"With Turner out the door and All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton sidelined for the year with an Achilles tendon tear, Indiana has plummeted from a Finals team last season to the No. 15 seed in the Eastern Conference this year, at 13-38. Key reserve power forward Obi Toppin has missed all but three games with a foot surgery, but could return after the All-Star break. Despite the club's miserable season, Pacers power forward Pascal Siakam was just named to his fourth All-Star squad in 2025-26."

The Pacers acquired All-Defensive center Ivica Zubac and bench forward Kobe Brown in exchange for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, multiple 2026-protected and future first-round picks, plus a 2028 second-rounder. Los Angeles will add an unprotected 2031 first if the 2026 selection falls outside picks 5-9. Indiana previously pursued Utah center Walker Kessler with two unprotected future firsts, but Utah rejected those proposals. Indiana has rotated several centers this season and sought a long-term starting center after Myles Turner's departure. Injuries to Tyrese Haliburton and Obi Toppin have contributed to a 13-38 record, while Pascal Siakam was named an All-Star.

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