Pacers Remain Confident Despite Risky Zubac Trade Outcome

The Indiana Pacers are preparing for a pivotal moment in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, with their first-round pick on the line. If the Pacers' selection falls between No. 1 and No. 4, they will retain the pick. However, if it lands at No. 5 or No. 6, the pick will go to the Los Angeles Clippers. Should they fail to convey the pick in this year's draft, the Clippers will receive an unprotected first-round pick in 2031.

The Pacers are currently seeded No. 2 in the lottery, meaning the furthest they can fall is No. 6. Despite having never won the draft lottery in franchise history, the team is not panicking. Their highest lottery pick came in 1988 when they selected Rik Smits with the No. 2 overall selection.

Pacers General Manager Chad Buchanan acknowledged the risk involved in the trade that sent Ivica Zubac to the Clippers. "When we made the trade, obviously we knew there was risk involved as there is in any other trade," Buchanan said in a recent radio interview. "With the draft pick involved, we looked at the finances of the situation and the scenario where you keep the pick, the scenario where you lose the pick. We felt that both scenarios provided opportunities to help our team be better next year."

The Pacers are optimistic about their future, with Buchanan stating the team is aiming to be a contender again next season. Health will be a key factor, as will Zubac's role as a starting center. "The core of this comes down to Ivica is a great player," Buchanan said. "We've been a big believer, a big fan of him for a long time. This team has shown that it's capable of doing some really special things."

One of the team's biggest needs is bench scoring. The Pacers ranked 20th in the league in bench points per game last season. Buchanan believes the team can still improve through free agency and future trades, regardless of the draft lottery outcome. "Should we lose the pick, there's other opportunities to improve our team through free agency," he said. "We still have trades. We gain a pick that we can use in the future for a trade."

The Pacers also hold a 2027 first-round pick, which they can use in a potential trade. The team's flexibility remains intact, with a salary cap projected to rise to $126 million for the 2024-25 season. The draft lottery results will be announced on Sunday, April 27, giving the Pacers clarity on their next steps.