The Ivica Zubac deal is still hanging over the Indiana Pacers, and NBA analyst Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report says it continues to haunt the front office.
The biggest sting came on Mother’s Day during the draft lottery, when Indiana lost its first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft because of the trade with the LA Clippers. The Pacers had to finish in the top four to keep the pick after sending it to LAC with protections attached. Instead, the Washington Wizards jumped up in the lottery, Indiana landed fifth, and the pick went to the Clippers.
That means the Pacers missed out on a shot at AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer or Caleb Wilson. Now, they’re left hoping Zubac can eventually deliver enough value to justify the move.
So far, that hasn’t happened. Zubac played only five games for Indiana last season and has appeared in just three this season. He’s currently sidelined with a left ankle injury suffered in Game 3 against the Brooklyn Nets.
The numbers haven’t helped the case much either. Zubac is averaging 9.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game this season while shooting 60.0% from the field and 50.0% from the foul line.
That’s a sharp drop from the breakout year he had before the trade. Last season, Zubac finished 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.
For the Pacers, the idea was clear: Zubac would serve as the interior anchor for a team trying to climb back into contention with its core healthy. His rebounding and defense were supposed to be central to the postseason push.
Instead, the early returns have been rough. Indiana is 2-5, Zubac is out, and Tyrese Haliburton is also sidelined with a strained left hamstring. The All-Star point guard is expected to miss at least two weeks.
Haliburton missed all of last season while recovering from the right Achilles tendon tear he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This season, the two-time All-Star is averaging 21.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game while shooting 51.6% from the field, 37.0% from three and 86.7% from the free-throw line.
For now, the trade looks like a costly one for Indiana. The only way that changes is if Zubac gets healthy, plays like an All-Star and helps the Pacers get back to the NBA Finals.
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