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The Indiana Pacers may not have a first-round pick in this week's 2026 NBA Draft, but they do have a new franchise center in town.
After losing Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency last season, the Pacers badly needed help at the center position. Coming off of a run to the NBA Finals, Kevin Pritchard and company moved quickly to acquire a new big man.
Before the NBA trade deadline, Indiana pulled the trigger on a major trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for Ivica Zubac.
Zubac has been a star during his tenure with the Clippers. However, there are concerns about his fit with the fast pace that the Pacers run. He spoke out recently about next season and made a strong statement about the future.
“Definitely helped with [getting] a feel for how this team wants to play, about the pace, about defensive coverages, the defensive rotations,” Zubac said. “Offensively, where they want me to be, what they want me to do. So it definitely helped.”
He also made it clear that he is focused on getting into the best shape of his career.
"I kind of understood what they want from me, and (I've) got the whole summer to get in the best shape of my life and get ready for the next year,” he said.
In order for Indiana to be a true NBA Finals contender next season, the team will need Zubac playing at a high level. He will need to figure out how to fit into the Pacers' system.
During the 2025-26 season, Zubac played in just five games. He averaged 11.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, while shooting 47.2 percent from the floor.
Before the trade, he played in 43 games for Los Angeles and made 42 starts. He averaged 14.4 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, while shooting 61.3 percent.
Hopefully, the trade ends up being a win for the Pacers. They gave up a lot of value in order to get Zubac. Now, the star big man is focused on proving the team right for its belief in him.
Continue reading...
After losing Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency last season, the Pacers badly needed help at the center position. Coming off of a run to the NBA Finals, Kevin Pritchard and company moved quickly to acquire a new big man.
Before the NBA trade deadline, Indiana pulled the trigger on a major trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for Ivica Zubac.
Zubac has been a star during his tenure with the Clippers. However, there are concerns about his fit with the fast pace that the Pacers run. He spoke out recently about next season and made a strong statement about the future.
“Definitely helped with [getting] a feel for how this team wants to play, about the pace, about defensive coverages, the defensive rotations,” Zubac said. “Offensively, where they want me to be, what they want me to do. So it definitely helped.”
He also made it clear that he is focused on getting into the best shape of his career.
"I kind of understood what they want from me, and (I've) got the whole summer to get in the best shape of my life and get ready for the next year,” he said.
In order for Indiana to be a true NBA Finals contender next season, the team will need Zubac playing at a high level. He will need to figure out how to fit into the Pacers' system.
During the 2025-26 season, Zubac played in just five games. He averaged 11.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, while shooting 47.2 percent from the floor.
Before the trade, he played in 43 games for Los Angeles and made 42 starts. He averaged 14.4 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, while shooting 61.3 percent.
Hopefully, the trade ends up being a win for the Pacers. They gave up a lot of value in order to get Zubac. Now, the star big man is focused on proving the team right for its belief in him.
Continue reading...
