The LA Clippers came out of the 2026 February trade deadline looking like the clear winners in their deal with the Indiana Pacers, and Bennedict Mathurin’s new contract with the New Orleans Pelicans did nothing to change that.
Mathurin signed a two-year, $16 million deal with New Orleans that includes a player option, but even after losing him, the Clippers still ended up with the stronger side of the transaction.
Indiana received Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown in the blockbuster, and both players bring real value. Zubac is in the middle of his prime, while Brown is still working to carve out his place in the league. But the return LA pulled in was too rich for that to outweigh.
The biggest swing came from the 2026 protected first-rounder. It fell in the Clippers’ favor, and the front office used it on Keaton Wagler, a 19-year-old Illinois guard who the team sees as its face of the franchise and guard of the future.
That pick alone gives LA a huge advantage in the deal. But the Clippers were not done there.
They also landed a 2029 unprotected first-round pick from Indiana, along with Isaiah Jackson and a 2028 second-round pick. The unprotected 2029 first has the kind of upside that can tilt a trade by itself, especially if it lands in the lottery or even the top five.
Jackson adds another useful piece as a depth center with a strong two-way skill set, while the extra second-rounder only sweetens the package.
So while the Pacers got two capable players in Zubac and Brown, the Clippers walked away with the kind of draft capital and young talent that usually decides these deals. Once the lottery ended, the verdict was basically locked in, no matter where Mathurin eventually landed.
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For Clippers fans, the appeal is obvious: Hachimura brings a reliable offensive presence and a recent track record of production from his time with the Lakers, where he averaged 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last season. What matters now is how quickly that form carries over once he gets on the floor in a Clippers uniform, and whether his arrival helps deepen a roster looking for more dependable scoring options. [Read more 🡒]