Report: Clippers ship Zubac to Pacers
The Los Angeles Clippers are trading center Ivica Zubac and third-year guard Kobe Brown to the Indiana Pacers, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.
The Pacers are reportedly sending Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks, and a second-rounder to the Clippers. One first-rounder is for this year's draft but will be protected for picks 1-4 and 10-30, while the other will be unprotected in 2029, according to Charania.
If Indiana's 2026 first-rounder doesn't convey this year, the team will instead send L.A. an unprotected first-round pick in 2031.
Zubac, an All-Defensive second-team selection last season, is averaging 14.4 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 43 games this campaign.
The 28-year-old should immediately step in as Indiana's starting center, with offseason acquisition Jay Huff likely to move to a bench role. Zubac's addition puts the Pacers in position to rebound for the 2026-27 campaign, when star guard Tyrese Haliburton is expected to have fully recovered from the Achilles tear he suffered during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.