The One Pick That Sent the Pacers Scrambling — and What They’re Willing to Give Up

The moment the lottery ball fell to No. 5, the Indiana Pacers didn’t just lose a draft pick. They lost control of their entire offseason plan.

That pick, originally traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in the Ivica Zubac deal, was only protected if it landed inside the top four. It didn’t. And now, according to league sources cited by NBA insider Jake Fischer on Marc Stein’s Substack, the Pacers are desperately trying to buy their way back into the second round — specifically targeting a pick in the 30s.

It’s a pivot born from a worst-case scenario Indiana hoped it would never have to face.

A Gamble That Backfired

When the Pacers traded a potential first-rounder to the Clippers for Zubac, the logic was straightforward: Indiana needed a reliable center after losing Myles Turner in free agency. Zubac offered size, rebounding, and a physical presence. The protection — top-four or keep the pick — seemed reasonable, even optimistic, given the team’s belief in its own trajectory.

But basketball doesn’t care about logic. The Pacers finished with the fifth-worst record in the league, landed the No. 5 lottery slot, and watched their pick head straight to LA. The Clippers, suddenly holding a selection they weren’t supposed to have, get an unexpected infusion of young talent. Indiana gets a veteran big man — and an empty spot on its draft board.

The team has not confirmed any specific trade talks, but the urgency is clear. The Pacers are chasing a pick in a draft widely considered one of the deepest in years. Even a late second-rounder could yield a rotation player, something Indiana can’t afford to leave to free agency alone.

Why This Matters for Haliburton’s Window

The Pacers are banking on a healthy Tyrese Haliburton to resurrect a season that slipped away after his torn Achilles. Without him, Indiana’s offense stalled. With him, the team believes it can compete in the East. But belief alone doesn’t fill a roster.

Adding Zubac was a win-now move. Losing the pick was a setback. The question now: What are the Pacers willing to sacrifice to get back into the draft? Future second-rounders? Cash considerations? A young player with limited upside? Every option carries risk, but doing nothing might be riskier.

Fans online noted the irony of trading for a center just to lose the asset required to build around him. But the front office is in win-now mode — Haliburton isn’t getting younger, and the window in the East won’t stay open forever.

For now, Indiana’s draft night plans remain a mystery. But the scramble for a pick in the 30s tells you everything about how badly the Pacers want to avoid another empty-handed offseason.