Story by
"Pacers 2027 world champions" - Caitlin Clark is hyped after Indiana Pacers acquired Ivica Zubac
- Story by
- "Pacers 2027 world champions" - Caitlin Clark is hyped after Indiana Pacers acquired Ivica Zubac
On the final day of the trade deadline, arguably the biggest move involved the Los Angeles Clippers and Indiana Pacers , with Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown traded to Indiana in exchange for Benedict Mathurin , Isaiah Jackson , two first-round picks and a second-round pick.
Mathurin, who many saw as a long-term piece for Indiana given his youth and emerging All-Star potential in the years ahead, is headed to California. Like Myles Turner , who also left, he was one of the key pieces of the rotation that Rick Carlisle led to the NBA Finals last season.
Advertisement
With all the recent injuries, including Mathurin, Tyrese Haliburton and several other important players, the Pacers currently sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference at 13–38. Still, the trade for the Croatian center reignited hope among die-hard Pacers fans, including Caitlin Clark , who didn't hesitate to react to the Zubac trade.
Numbers tell a whole different story
Clark, who also plays for the Indiana Fever and has long been a vocal supporter of the city's men's team, is understandably hyped when seeing the kind of basketball the 7-foot center has played over the past few seasons, including stints as a Most Improved Player and Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
Advertisement
For the Pacers, at least on paper, they now have a phenomenal roster for next season. Alongside Zubac and Haliburton, key pieces include Pascal Siakam , Andrew Nembhard and TJ McConnell , forming the core for a new potential Finals run.
The pick-and-roll pairing of Zubac and Haliburton could become one of the league's deadliest weapons next season. Zubac has shown the kind of efficiency in pick-and-rolls he had with James Harden , while Haliburton's playmaking speaks for itself.
According to NBA.com , Haliburton ranked 25th in the league last season as a ball-handler in pick-and-roll possessions, with 6.4 per game and 38.4 percent frequency, generating 7.1 points per possession, 15th in the league.
Advertisement
While Haliburton was near the top, he still wasn't elite, partially due to the Pacers' style, which lacked a traditional pick-and-roll center and relied heavily on pace as they ranked seventh in the league last season with 100.7 possessions per game.
By contrast, the Clippers were just 20th in pace at 96.6 possessions per game, largely due to old-school big men like Zubac. Last season, Zubac was involved in 2.9 pick-and-roll possessions per game (19.6 percent frequency), scoring 1.2 points per possession, or 3.6 points overall, according to NBA.com .
Advertisement
How will Carlisle use Zubac?
This shows that the Clippers didn't run a Zubac-heavy pick-and-roll offense, but he was still utilized effectively in those situations. From this perspective, the question is how Zubac will fit into Carlisle's system, which favors fast pace and five-out formations.
On paper, Zubac and Haliburton should mesh well; both possess high basketball IQ and Siakam can slide back to wing positions without playing small-ball center. But a lack of outside shooting could limit Zubac's minutes.
Advertisement
The Pacers have been building a system for years, so it's unlikely they'll overhaul it drastically after acquiring Zubac. Still, Carlisle, the 2011 NBA champion with the Dallas Mavericks , may have a tactical plan where Zubac serves as a hidden strategic weapon.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
