According to ESPN, the Indiana Pacers believe the Ivica Zubac trade “will help reopen their championship window.”
That’s a bold way to frame a move that already changed the shape of Indiana’s roster and future. The Pacers brought Zubac over from the LA Clippers last season, and while his time in Indiana was brief, the organization is clearly betting on what he can do when the team is whole.
Zubac appeared in only five games for the Pacers last season, but he made those minutes count. He averaged 11.6 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 47.2% from the field and 80.0 % from the free-throw line. For a club leaning into a healthier version of its core, those numbers point to exactly why Indiana is high on him.
The 7-footer brings a long NBA résumé with him. He has played for the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers and Pacers, and he enters this season with career averages of 10.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.
Indiana’s faith in the deal comes with a cost attached. On Mother’s Day during the draft lottery, the Pacers lost their first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft because of the trade with the Clippers.
The protections on that pick meant Indiana needed to finish in the top four to keep it. Instead, the Washington Wizards moved up, Indiana landed fifth, and the pick went to the Clippers.
That outcome stung because of what was on the board. The Pacers could have drafted AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer or Caleb Wilson. Instead, they’re counting on Zubac to play like an All-Star this season alongside Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton.
There’s reason for optimism on Zubac’s side, too. He came into last season after a breakout year in which he ranked fourth in the league in rebounding at 12.6 per game and earned second-team All-Defense honors. He was tracking toward a second straight double-double before injuries got in the way and the Clippers dealt him to Indiana.
Now he’s set to serve as the interior anchor for a Pacers team trying to climb back toward prominence with its core players healthy. His work on the glass and his defense will matter a lot if Indiana is going to make a real postseason push.
Haliburton has already seen the fit up close. He said Zubac is by far the best screener he’s ever played with. That should give the Pacers’ pick-and-roll game a real edge this season, with Haliburton and Zubac operating as the engine.
And that matters because Haliburton does what elite guards are supposed to do: find people. He owns career averages of 17.5 points and 8.8 assists per game in the regular season, along with 17.9 points and 8.4 assists per game in the playoffs. The league is waiting to see Hali back on the floor again, and Indiana is hoping Zubac helps make the wait worth it.
In Other News...
Kelly Oubre's Pacers Fit Could Matter Sooner Than Expected
Kelly Oubre Jr. may have signed on for the 2026-27 season, but his fit in Indiana is already coming into focus during the preseason. The Pacers have been working him into their up-tempo style, and both Rick Carlisle and Pascal Siakam have spoken positively about the wings versatility and the ways he can complement what Indiana wants to do.
His role took on a little more urgency in the second preseason game, when Oubre was asked to step into a larger spot in the lineup as the Pacers continued sorting out rotation looks. It was another small sign that Indiana may not need to wait long to see how his length, energy and adaptability translate, especially if the team has to make quick adjustments early in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Pascal Siakam Gets An Early Shot At A Team Pacers Fans Haven't Forgotten
Pascal Siakam is getting an early chance to see a familiar kind of opponent when the Pacers meet the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team and organization that still carries some baggage for Indiana fans. The matchup gives Siakam a preseason stage to work against one of the NBAs most intriguing young cores while the Pacers continue sorting out their own identity before the games start counting.
For Indiana, this is more than just another exhibition. The Thunder bring the kind of athletic, disruptive defense that can expose early-season issues, and Siakam figures to spend plenty of time navigating that challenge against Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. After earlier preseason tests and with the regular-season opener looming, it is the kind of matchup that can reveal where the Pacers are ahead of a tougher stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Get A Painful Thunder Reminder In A Huge Preseason Test
The Pacers are getting an early look at just how far the defending standard still reaches when they face Oklahoma City in preseason. These teams met in the Finals two years ago, but the rosters around that series have changed sharply since then, with Indiana leaning more into trades and veteran additions while the Thunder have kept stockpiling young talent and building from the draft. It is the kind of matchup that can feel bigger than the calendar says, because both clubs still see themselves as real championship threats.
Indianas side of the ledger has been reshaped by moves like the one that brought Ivica Zubac to the Pacers, part of a broader push to accelerate the contention window. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, has stayed committed to its long-term blueprint, trusting internal growth and another wave of youth to keep the machine moving. A preseason meeting will not settle anything, but it should offer a sharp reminder of how little margin there is now between chasing a title and trying to catch the team that has already figured out the formula. [Read more 🡒]