Pacers Lose Top Lottery Pick to Clippers After Fifth‑Place Draw

The Pacers entered the lottery with a 52.1 % chance to keep a top‑four protected pick after trading it to the Clippers for centre Ivica Zubac. The team finished 29th in the league, the lowest spot that guarantees a lottery ball.

On Sunday the lottery balls landed with Indiana at the fifth position, activating the protection clause and transferring the pick to Los Angeles. The move ends a gamble that cost the Pacers a potential early‑round selection in a draft class widely regarded as deep.

President of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard took to social media to own the decision. He said he was “really sorry to all our fans,” acknowledging the risk and expressing disappointment that the pick fell fifth despite the team’s poor record.

The loss follows a cascade of setbacks. In the previous season’s Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, star guard Tyrese Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles tendon, sidelining him for the entire 2025‑26 campaign. The injury, combined with other roster ailments, helped push the Pacers from a Finals contender to the league’s bottom.

Acquiring Zubac was intended to give Indiana a reliable starting centre, a piece the front office argued was essential for competing with elite teams. With the lottery pick gone, the Pacers now rely on Zubac’s presence and the expected return of Haliburton to drive a turnaround.

What it means: The Clippers gain an extra asset in a draft expected to produce multiple impact players, while Indiana must lean on its existing core and future free‑agent flexibility. The loss of the pick also tightens the Pacers’ draft capital, limiting options for rebuilding or adding depth.

Looking ahead, the Pacers’ focus will be on Haliburton’s recovery timeline, Zubac’s integration, and how the team navigates the upcoming free‑agency period without the lottery selection. The next lottery draw in June will reveal whether the Clippers can capitalize on the acquired pick.