The Indiana Pacers have completed a major trade to acquire center Ivica Zubac and forward Kobe Brown just before the NBA trade deadline. This move addresses Indiana’s ongoing need for a reliable center after losing Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks, a situation that forced the team to rotate five different players in the center position during the current season with limited success. The trade was confirmed by ESPN’s Shams Charania and involves relinquishing key assets, including Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, and multiple future draft picks.
Mathurin, who has been linked to trade talks all season due to the lack of a contract extension last summer, was Indiana’s most valuable trade asset heading into this season. The Pacers opted to utilize this opportunity to pursue a strategic rebuild around their key injured player, Tyrese Haliburton. Jackson, having struggled with injury and fouling issues since recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, was also included to facilitate the trade.
The trade package includes a protected 2026 first-round pick, which allows the Clippers to receive the pick only if it falls between positions 5 and 9; otherwise, it converts to an unprotected 2031 first-round pick, according to analyst Jake Fischer. Additional draft compensation includes a 2029 unprotected first-round selection and a second-round pick, illustrating the Pacers’ commitment to bolstering their roster immediately while managing long-term assets.
Bolstering the Roster for a Strong Championship Pursuit Next Season
This acquisition signals the Pacers’ intent to contend seriously for an NBA title once Tyrese Haliburton returns from his season-long Achilles injury. Ivica Zubac adds significant value as Indiana’s most capable rebounder and a dependable rim protector, two critical aspects that have been lacking since Turner’s departure. Zubac’s defensive presence under the basket is expected to strengthen the team’s interior defense dramatically.
Haliburton’s playmaking skills will complement Zubac’s game well, especially through pick-and-roll maneuvers and high-efficiency alley-oop opportunities. However, Zubac’s game does not include three-point shooting, which could influence how the team’s offense adapts, especially given the Pacers’ prior reliance on five-out lineups during their 2025 run to the NBA Finals. The team and coaching staff will have roughly half a season to integrate Zubac’s style with the existing roster dynamics.
Addressing Longstanding Team Weaknesses and Future Prospects
By adding a solid center like Zubac, Indiana aims to solve a persistent deficiency in rebounding and interior defense, areas that have hampered their competitiveness over recent years. While the team’s offense has suffered greatly in Haliburton’s absence—ranking as the worst in the NBA this season—the hope is that this strategic move will reverse that trend moving forward. The front office’s focus remains on rebuilding a balanced squad capable of sustained success and a return to championship contention.
The trade represents a high-stakes gamble, trading a proven young scorer in Mathurin and uncertain health in Jackson for reliable frontcourt talent and depth. Moving forward, the Pacers will watch closely as Zubac adjusts to his new role, while also managing expected changes to team strategy, rotations, and overall chemistry that will inform their bid to recapture NBA Finals glory.
The Pacers are sending Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks and one second-round pick to the Clippers for Zubac and Kobe Brown, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/AFQmRFVrMQ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026
Source: The first pick going to LAC is the Pacers' unprotected first-round pick in 2029. The other is the Pacers 2026 first-round pick, protected 1-4 and 10-30. So Clippers get 5-9, and if the pick falls outside of that range, it converts to the Pacers 2031 unprotected first.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) February 5, 2026
