The Indiana Pacers didn’t wait for the offseason to address their biggest need. After trying out a few stopgap solutions at center following Myles Turner’s departure in free agency, the front office made a decisive move at the trade deadline - and they got their guy.
Ivica Zubac was Indiana’s top target, and they landed him.
According to GM Chad Buchanan, Zubac checked every box: age, production, personality, and fit. The Pacers had been cycling through options like Isaiah Jackson and Jay Huff in the starting five, but it was clear they needed a more established presence in the middle. Zubac brings that - and more.
“We didn’t want to just stand on the sidelines,” Buchanan said, using a racing analogy to describe the team’s mindset. “Some teams are in the race, some are prepping for it, and some are just watching. We wanted to be in it.”
That urgency explains why Indiana didn’t wait for the summer. They could’ve rolled the dice, hoped for better options in free agency or the draft.
But the front office decided the time to act was now. And to get Zubac, they had to pay a real price.
The deal with the Clippers included a 2026 first-round pick - one with some interesting protections. The Pacers keep it if it lands in the top four or outside the top nine.
But if it falls between picks five and nine, it heads to L.A. That means there’s a real chance Indiana parts with a mid-lottery pick in a deep draft.
Still, Buchanan felt the risk was worth it.
“You never want to give up anything if you don’t have to,” he said. “But to get a good player, there’s going to be some pain on both sides.”
And there was. Indiana gave up two young players they’d invested in: Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson.
Both were homegrown talents, drafted and developed by the Pacers. But Zubac, a proven rim protector and interior anchor, is the type of player who can stabilize a young roster and help set the tone defensively.
The Clippers, meanwhile, gave up a player who’d become part of their organizational fabric - a veteran with years of service and emotional ties to the franchise. It was a true basketball trade: value for value, with both teams giving up pieces that mattered.
As for Zubac’s on-court debut in Indiana, fans will have to wait a little longer. He’s still dealing with an ankle injury, and forward Obi Toppin remains sidelined as he recovers from foot surgery. But Buchanan expects both players to return before season’s end.
In the meantime, the Pacers have an open roster spot, and there’s a real chance Quenton Jackson could be promoted from his two-way contract. Buchanan praised Jackson’s energy, toughness, and locker-room presence - calling him a “big part of our culture.” With 18 games of eligibility left on his two-way deal and the Pacers hovering just under the luxury tax line, there’s no rush to convert his contract, but the door is clearly open.
Looking ahead, Buchanan acknowledged that what happens in the draft will shape the team’s summer plans. If the Pacers keep their pick - especially if it lands in the top four - that could dramatically shift their offseason strategy. But no matter how the ping-pong balls bounce, the message from the front office is clear: they’re aiming to contend next year.
“We’re going to be aggressive,” Buchanan said. “Whatever it takes to put ourselves in position to compete for a championship, we’re going to try and do it.”
And Zubac may have a new wrinkle to his game by then. He’s made just one three-pointer in his entire NBA career, but he’s already had conversations with head coach Rick Carlisle about expanding his range - specifically corner threes. It’s something he’s worked on quietly for years, even if the Clippers never gave him the green light.
“I always thought I could shoot that shot,” Zubac said. “I just never had the chance.
We’ll see how open they are to it here. If that’s what they want me to do, I’ve got the rest of the season and the summer to get ready.”
It’s a new chapter for Zubac and a new direction for the Pacers - one that signals they’re done waiting. They’re ready to race.