Indiana Pacers' Ivica Zubac looks on before an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers would have loved to keep their top-four protected first-round draft pick this offseason. They’ve made that clear, even in the aftermath of their unlucky draft lottery night.
But they also love the player they sent that pick out to get. Ivica Zubac, an All-Defense team member in 2025, was dealt from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Pacers back in February. Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan called Zubac the team’s number one target just after the trade.
“We like (Zubac), we like his fit, like his age, like his production, like his character, his locker room culture, all of the above,” Buchanan said. “He was a very obvious candidate for us to pursue.”
Those are all positive traits for a basketball team looking to win in the near term. Zubac’s defense and rebounding could be crucial skill additions for the Pacers. The big man played in just five games for the blue and gold this season thanks to different injuries, and he averaged 11.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in those outings.
