In a major deadline-day gamble, the Indiana Pacers have officially secured their "pivot" for the post-Achilles era of Tyrese Haliburton. On February 5, 2026, the Pacers finalized a blockbuster deal with the Los Angeles Clippers to acquire center Ivica Zubac, signaling that Indiana has no intention of let their current 13–38 season define their future.
The trade effectively addresses the gaping hole in the middle left by Myles Turner’s departure to Milwaukee last summer, but it came at a steep price.
The Trade Details
| Indiana Pacers Receive | Los Angeles Clippers Receive |
| Ivica Zubac (C) | Bennedict Mathurin (G/F) |
| Kobe Brown (F) | Isaiah Jackson (C) |
| 2026 1st-Round Pick (Protected 1–4, 10–30) | |
| 2029 1st-Round Pick (Unprotected) | |
| Future 2nd-Round Pick |
Analysis: The Repercussions
Indiana: Building the "Floor" for 2027
With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined for the remainder of the 2025-26 season after tearing his Achilles in the 2025 Finals, the Pacers are using this "lost" season as a "pre-agency" period.
The Fit: Zubac (14.4 PPG, 11.0 RPG) is a massive defensive upgrade for a team ranking 28th in points allowed in the paint. More importantly, he is the league's premier screen-setter. Once Haliburton returns, their pick-and-roll partnership is projected to be among the most efficient in the NBA.
The Protection Gamble: The 2026 pick protection is fascinating. It only conveys if it falls between 5 and 9. If the Pacers land a Top 4 pick (likely, given their record), they keep it and send an unprotected 2031 pick instead. This allows them to pair Zubac with a potential superstar rookie like AJ Dybantsa or Caleb Wilson.
LA Clippers: The "Garland" Era Reset
The Clippers are undergoing a radical mid-season facelift. Just 24 hours after trading James Harden to Cleveland for Darius Garland, they moved their longest-tenured player in Zubac.
The Return: By landing Bennedict Mathurin (17.8 PPG), the Clippers get a 23-year-old dynamic scorer who fits perfectly alongside Garland.
Restricted Free Agency: Mathurin is headed for RFA this summer. The Clippers now have the inside track to sign him to a long-term extension as a core pillar of their new, younger identity.
The Verdict: Who Won?
Winner: Los Angeles Clippers
While the Pacers filled a desperate need at center, the Clippers are the clear winners of this transaction.
The haul for Zubac is immense. Landing a high-upside wing like Mathurin and two first-round picks for a 29-year-old center is a masterclass in asset management by Lawrence Frank. The Clippers managed to get younger, more explosive, and more flexible in a single afternoon.
Indiana gets a "B+" for securing a long-term starter at center who is under contract through 2028, but they paid a "Star Price" for a high-level role player. If that 2026 pick conveys in a loaded draft, this could be a deal the Pacers regret—but for now, they are betting that a healthy Haliburton + Zubac is the ticket back to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Related Article: NBA Trade ALERT: Minnesota made a trade! But not Greek Freek!
Comments
Post a Comment