Clippers trade center Ivica Zubac to the Pacers
Shortly before Thursday’s trade deadline, the Indiana Pacers acquired center Ivica Zubac from the LA Clippers in exchange for Bennedict Mathurin, Isiah Johnson, two first-round selections, and one second-round pick.
LA will receive a 2026 first-round selection that is protected from picks Nos. 1-4 and 10-30 and a 2029 unprotected Pacers’ first-round pick. If the selection doesn’t convey, it will turn into an unprotected first-rounder in 2031.
Zubac has developed into one of the more dependable centers in the league during his tenure with the Clippers. He’s currently averaging a double-double with 14.4 points and 11.0 rebounds while shooting 61.3 percent from the floor.
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The 28-year-old is under contract through the 2027-28 season, which will keep him in the fold long enough to play with star point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
The move was a difficult decision for the Clippers to move off one of their longtime cornerstone pieces.
“This trade is extremely difficult for many reasons, but in order to achieve our ultimate goals as an organization, we felt we had to take advantage of the opportunity,” Clippers president Lawrence Frank said in a statement via ESPN. “Zu is one of the best centers in the NBA, the longest-tenured player on the team and a pillar of everything we’ve done for the past 7 years. … We will miss Zu as a player and a person.”
Meanwhile, the Clippers are adding a promising young talent to their group as Mathurin is averaging 17.8 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 43 percent from the floor in 28 games. He is in the final year of his rookie contract, which will put him in the position to become a restricted free agent next offseason.
