Indiana’s Draft Gamble Backfires as Zubac Trade Costs Them Fifth Pick
When the Indiana Pacers stepped into the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on Sunday in Chicago, the franchise harboured genuine optimism. With the second-worst record in the league at 19-63, Indiana possessed lottery odds that suggested a realistic pathway to securing a top-four selection. That hope evaporated quickly. The Pacers watched as the Washington Wizards claimed the first overall pick, and the subsequent reshuffling pushed Indiana down to fifth. More significantly, that fifth selection automatically transferred to the Los Angeles Clippers—the price tag attached to the mid-season acquisition of centre Ivica Zubac. For Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard, the…
