Clippers Trade Star Center Ivica Zubac to Pacers

After trading James Harden to the Cavaliers earlier this week, the Clippers have continued their rebuild around Kawhi Leonard by trading star center Ivica Zubac to the Pacers, according to a report from ESPN's Shams Charania.

Los Angeles receives 23-year-old wing Bennedict Mathurin, 24-year-old forward Isaiah Jackson, a pair of first-round picks and a second-rounder in return. The first of the picks, a 2026 first-rounder, includes protections on picks 1–4 and 10–30; if the pick doesn’t vest this season, it will become an unprotected first-round pick in 2031. The Clippers will also receive a 2029 unprotected first-round pick, Charania reports.

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Zubac was ruled out of Wednesday night's loss to Cleveland due to personal reasons. It was not trade related, as Zubac and his wife welcomed a child on Tuesday.

However, trade rumors around Zubac intensified after the Clippers traded Harden away ahead of the deadline. The 28-year-old is in his 10th NBA season, and is averaging 14.4 points and 11 rebounds this season on 61.3% shooting.

Zubac fills a void at center for the Pacers, who saw Myles Turner leave in free agency after making a run at the NBA title last season. With All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton rehabbing from a torn Achilles, the Pacers are taking a gap year, as they're 13–38 on the season.

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