Pacers Secure Ivica Zubac, Weigh Next Steps for Roster
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The Indiana Pacers moved quickly before the trade deadline to acquire veteran center Ivica Zubac, a deal general manager Chad Buchanan said addressed a pressing need created when Myles Turner left in free agency last summer.
Buchanan told reporters the front office considered several options after trying Isaiah Jackson and Jay Huff as starters. Zubac, 29, became “the clear No. 1 target” because of his age, production and locker-room reputation, the GM said.
Trade terms
Indiana sent the Los Angeles Clippers a protected 2026 first-round pick and a package highlighted by Bennedict Mathurin and Jackson. The pick conveys to L.A. only if it falls between Nos. 5 and 9; it stays with Indiana if it lands in the top four or outside the top nine.
“Ideally you don’t give up anything, but to get a good player you have to feel a little pain,” Buchanan noted, adding that parting with two recent draft picks underscored the club’s commitment to contend.
Timing the move
Although the Pacers are tracking toward the lottery, Buchanan said management did not want to risk waiting until summer free agency. “If there’s a race, we want to be in it, not watching from the sidelines,” he explained.
Open roster spot
The deadline dealings left Indiana with one vacancy on its 15-man roster. Buchanan said promoting two-way guard Quenton Jackson is under consideration. Jackson has 18 NBA-eligible games left on his two-way contract, giving the team flexibility while it sits less than $900,000 below the luxury-tax threshold.
Injury updates
Zubac has yet to debut for Indiana because of an ankle issue, and forward Obi Toppin remains out following October foot surgery. Buchanan expects both players to return before season’s end.
Looking ahead
Asked what the roster still lacks, Buchanan quipped that a top-four draft pick would help. He said the final two months will be used to evaluate needs and cap flexibility heading into the offseason. “We’re going to be aggressive to put ourselves in position to contend next year,” he said.
Zubac’s expanding range
The 7-footer, who has attempted only 12 three-pointers since entering the league in 2016, said he and coach Rick Carlisle have discussed adding corner threes to his game. “I always worked on it,” Zubac said. “If that’s what they want, I have the rest of this season and the whole summer to be ready for next year.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
