The Los Angeles Clippers made another bold move ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, sending starting center Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers. In return, the Clippers will receive guard Bennedict Mathurin, forward Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks, and one second-round pick. Additionally, the Clippers will get a 2026 first-round pick from the Pacers, protected for selections 1-4 and 10-30, plus an unprotected 2029 pick, with protections that could convert the 2026 selection into a 2031 pick.
Pacers Target Zubac After Kessler Falls Through, Clippers Continue Roster Rebuild Strategy
The Pacers’ pursuit of Zubac came after their initial target, Jazz center Walker Kessler, opted not to move. Indiana reportedly offered two unprotected first-round picks for Kessler before pivoting to Zubac. This trade follows the Clippers’ earlier blockbuster deadline move, trading 11-time All-Star James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for point guard Darius Garland, signaling a focus on youth and long-term flexibility.
Ivica Zubac (NBA)Zubac has been a steady presence for the Clippers since joining in 2019, after being drafted by the Lakers in 2016. He enjoyed a breakout season last year, earning second-team All-Defensive honors while averaging a career-high 16.8 points and 12.6 rebounds per game, finishing sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Although his 2025-26 season has been slightly less dominant, he continues to average a double-double with 14.4 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Pacers Add Zubac To Anchor Frontcourt While Clippers Acquire Youth And Draft Picks
For the Pacers, Zubac becomes the centerpiece of their frontcourt after losing Myles Turner to free agency. He will join forces with injured-but-returning point guard Tyrese Haliburton and forward Pascal Siakam, who has averaged 23.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4 assists this season. The Pacers are struggling this year with a 13-38 record, last in the Eastern Conference, and hope Zubac can help stabilize their roster while providing a veteran presence alongside their young stars.
Meanwhile, the Clippers add Mathurin and Jackson to a core led by Kawhi Leonard and Garland. Mathurin has been the Pacers’ second-leading scorer this season at 17.8 points per game, though injuries have limited him to 28 games. Jackson, a former Clippers first-round pick, averages 6.4 points and 5.6 rebounds while recovering from a torn Achilles. By moving Zubac and Harden while retaining Leonard, the Clippers emphasize youth, flexibility, and future draft capital.
This trade reflects both teams’ strategies: the Pacers aim to build around Haliburton, Siakam, and Zubac, while the Clippers pivot toward younger talent and draft assets to reshape the roster for the long term.
