The Pacers’ deal for Ivica Zubac already looked painful, and Isaiah Jackson is making it sting even more.
Indiana sent multiple first-round picks, a second-round pick, Bennedict Mathurin, and Jackson to the LA Clippers for Zubac and Kobe Brown, a move that was already hard to defend. That became even uglier once the draft lottery landed, giving the Clippers a shot at one of the top prospects in the class, Keaton Wagler. And in the regular season, Jackson has added another layer of regret for Indiana.
Even with the Pacers dealing with injuries, most notably the absence of Tyrese Haliburton, Jackson has been better than Zubac so far. The former first-round pick is averaging 8.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 57.7% from the field. Zubac, meanwhile, has posted 7.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists on 53.3% shooting.
The context matters, but it still doesn’t help Indiana’s case that Jackson has outperformed the main piece it targeted in the trade.
Zubac was supposed to give the Pacers the kind of center production they had been missing. He had been nearly elite for the Clippers, especially around the rim on both ends, and Indiana hoped that version would carry over.
That hasn’t happened yet. Zubac opened the season with a strong night, finishing with 16 points and 15 rebounds, but things went downhill after that before a sprained ankle slowed him further. A new setting and the Pacers’ fast pace may have played a role.
When he came back Nov. 4th, the outing was rough: one point on 0-5 shooting and 1-2 from the free-throw line. His next game, against the Denver Nuggets, was better with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists, but it still wasn’t the impact Indiana paid for.
Jackson, on the other hand, has been a bright spot for the Clippers. In the blockbuster swap, his name got buried behind the bigger pieces, and because he had a limited role with the Pacers and had recently torn his Achilles, there wasn’t much certainty about what he’d bring.
So far, he’s brought plenty. Jackson has started and come off the bench for Tyronn Lue, scoring efficiently, holding up defensively, and helping create space for players like Darius Garland.
He also turned in one of the best games of his career against the Miami Heat, finishing with 19 points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes while going 9-for-11 from the field.
For now, Jackson has clearly outplayed Zubac. That could change once Zubac settles deeper into Indiana’s system and Haliburton returns. But at the moment, the Pacers are left with a trade that looks worse by the week.
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