The Indiana Pacers entered Sundayâs 2026 NBA Draft Lottery with one of the leagueâs worst records and a strong chance at landing a franchise-changing prospect. Instead, the lottery delivered a costly outcome that immediately sparked reactions across social media.
Indiana finished the season 19-63 and entered the lottery with a 52.1% chance of securing a top-four pick. However, the ping-pong balls placed the Pacers at No. 5 overall. Because of protections attached to their midseason trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown, the selection now belongs to Los Angeles.
The result became one of the biggest talking points following the lottery announcement. The Washington Wizards won the No. 1 overall pick, while the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, and Chicago Bulls rounded out the top four. The Clippers now own the fifth pick after Indiana failed to move into the protected range.
Indiana Pacers Fans React After Los Angeles Clippers Receive No. 5 Pick
The Pacers acquired Zubac earlier this year while trying to stabilize the center position after losing Myles Turner in free agency last offseason. Indiana sent Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a 2028 second-round pick, a 2029 first-round pick and conditional draft compensation to Los Angeles in the deal.
The protection on the 2026 pick allowed Indiana to keep the selection only if it landed in the top four. Once the lottery placed the Pacers at No. 5, the pick officially transferred to the Clippers.
The outcome immediately triggered strong reactions from NBA fans across X.
âFor the next 2 years, I’d rather have zubac on this team than a 19 year old guard who is erratic, undeveloped, and a bench player,â one fan wrote.
Others focused on Indianaâs season-long tanking effort and the final result.
âWho did we think we were thinking something would actually go our way for onceððð,â another fan posted.
âThe Pacers TANKED all season for⦠Ivica Zubac ð¬ They didnât land their lottery pick because of the trade. What a meltdownâ¦â another user added.
Several reactions referenced the unusual protection structure attached to the trade.
âThe Pacers really committed one of the most unethical tanking jobs ever… Just to lose their first-round pick ð,â one post read.
âPacers getting NOBODY after that year is cruel, but hilarious,â another fan wrote.
Others questioned the deal’s long-term value.
âThe Pacers front office made a huge mistake, damn,â one fan posted.
âPacers losing a top five pick from a midseason trade where they still werenât trying to win after is crazy,â another user added.
The reactions reflected frustration surrounding Indianaâs inability to capitalize on one of the strongest projected draft classes in recent years, headlined by BYU star AJ Dybantsa, Duke forward Cameron Boozer, and Kansas guard Darryn Peterson.
Indiana Pacers Still Believe Ivica Zubac Trade Can Help Core
GettyLos Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac
Despite losing the pick, Indianaâs front office has publicly defended the decision to acquire Zubac.
Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan recently explained the organizationâs thinking during an appearance on âThe Ride with JMVâ on 107.5 The Fan.
âThe core of this comes down to Ivica is a great player,â Buchanan said. âWe’ve been a big believer, a big fan of him for a long time.â
Buchanan also pointed to Indianaâs desire to remain competitive around its current roster core.
âThis team has shown that it’s capable of doing some really special things,â Buchanan said. âWe were missing a starting center that we thought could keep us in that mix.â
Zubac appeared in only five games for Indiana after the trade while dealing with injuries, including a fractured rib. Across the season with both the Clippers and Pacers, he averaged 14.1 points and 10.6 rebounds.
Indiana still expects to return much of its core next season, including Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, and Pascal Siakam. However, Sundayâs lottery result removed one potential avenue for adding another elite young prospect to the roster.
The 2026 NBA Draft will take place June 23-24 in Brooklyn.
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