The Ivica Zubac trade looks even worse for Indiana every time the Pacers get a clean look at what they actually gave up.
Back in May, on the night of the draft lottery, the deal between the LA Clippers and Indiana Pacers was effectively decided. LA ended up with the fifth overall pick, Keaton Wagler, plus an unprotected 2029 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, Bennedict Mathurin, and Isaiah Jackson in exchange for Zubac and Kobe Brown. That return made it pretty clear the Clippers came out ahead.
The case gets even stronger when Zubac is asked to operate in Indiana’s style. Once the Pacers were finally at full strength in preseason, the big man looked like a clunky fit in a system built around pace, transition, and quick strikes. It was the kind of night that made the mismatch impossible to ignore.
Zubac finished with six points, three rebounds, and two assists in 18 minutes, going 3-for-7 from the floor. He also coughed it up three times and posted a minus-13.
The numbers weren’t the only problem. The way he looked on the floor told the same story.
Zubac has been highly productive for the Clippers for a reason: his game fit what Tyronn Lue wanted to do. Los Angeles leaned into the half-court, and Lue regularly used him in isolation alongside players like Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and James Harden. That gave Zubac room to show off his post game, his footwork, his touch around the rim, and even his passing.
Indiana is built differently. The Pacers want to run, get out in transition, and wear teams down with speed. That’s a very different basketball identity, and Zubac doesn’t naturally slot into both worlds.
Rick Carlisle can make adjustments, but there’s only so much he can do when the team’s whole formula points in another direction. And that’s why this trade keeps tilting further toward the Clippers.
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