yahoo - 5/10/2026 11:42:37 PM - GMT (+2 )
With their eyes on returning to contention after a season off for Tyrese Haliburton, the Indiana Pacers had a shot at adding a top 4 pick in this year’s NBA Draft.
Instead, they won’t have a first-round draft pick at all. The Pacers fell out of the top of of Sunday’s NBA Draft lottery, and their pick that wasn’t projected for No. 5 will now fall to the Los Angeles Clippers via the Ivica Zubac trade.
The Pacers’ full price paid for Ivica Zubac at the trade deadline:
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 10, 2026
Bennedict Mathurin
Isaiah Jackson
No. 5 overall pick
2029 unprotected 1st
Future 2nd
A massive price to pay in the end. pic.twitter.com/HqXeAch4Is
This prompted an apology from Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard.
I'm really sorry to all our fans. I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year. I thought we were due some luck. But please remember - this team deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year. We have always been resilient.
— Kevin Pritchard (@PacersKev) May 10, 2026
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