Ivica Zubac trade grades: Who won the Pacers and Clippers trade?
The Indiana Pacers were surprising buyers before the 2026 NBA trade deadline, acquiring big man Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers .
Zubac is one of the more valuable defensive bigs in the NBA and can score efficiently near the basket. After the Pacers lost Myles Turner to the Bucks during the offseason, the former Clippers standout will make for a valuable pick-and-roll partner once Tyrese Haliburton returns from his Achilles injury suffered during the 2025 NBA Finals.
But how much did it cost to find a long-term replacement for Turner for the Pacers? Here are the details.
Pacers and Clippers trade details
Pacers receive:Ivica Zubac, Kobe Brown
Clippers receive: Bennedict Mathurin , Isaiah Jackson , 2026 first-round pick (protected 1-4 and 10-30), 2029 first-round pick (unprotected), one second-round pick
Pacers trade grades
Ivica Zubac is a perfect fit for the Pacers as a defensive stalwart who can protect the rim as well as anyone in the NBA. He is a low-usage player who can contribute a double-double on any given night, which should make him a fascinating player in Indiana's frontcourt next to Pascal Siakam . Even though he is a talented player, he likely won't add too many extra wins for Indiana as they continue to tank for better draft odds in the 2026 NBA Draft. He is on a team-friendly contract, too, which makes him even more valuable.
Grade:A-
Clippers trade grades
The Clippers are in the middle of a relatively shocking restructuring considering how well they have played lately, losing both James Harden and Zubac. The Clippers do not own the rights to their own draft pick this year, so a tank cannot happen and so they are incentivized to win as many games as possible. Mathurin is a relatively interesting young player. But if the Pacers pick conveys 5-9, they could potentially have a very strong player like Caleb Wilson, Kingston Flemings, Jayden Quaintance or Mikel Brown Jr. next season. Per Tankathon , if the season ended today, the pick would have a 47.9 percent chance of going to Los Angeles . If it does not convey, though, it does not convey until 2031.
Grade:C+
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Ivica Zubac trade grades: Who won the Pacers and Clippers trade?
