INDIANA — The Indiana Pacers’ high hopes for a top selection in the 2026 NBA Draft were dashed Sunday afternoon during the NBA Draft Lottery. Despite entering the day with a 52.1% chance of landing a top-four pick, the team slid to the number five spot, triggering a trade condition that sends the selection to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The loss of the pick is the final piece of a mid-season blockbuster trade with the Clippers. Seeking to stabilize the center position following the departure of Myles Turner, Indiana acquired Ivica Zubac and guard Kobe Brown in exchange for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 first-round pick.
The deal included a conditional 2026 first-round selection that would only stay with Indiana if it fell within the top four. Because the pick landed at No. 5, it officially conveys to Los Angeles, leaving the Pacers without a first-round selection in what scouts describe as a deep and “generational” draft class
The Pacers’ 19-63 finish—the second-worst record in the NBA—was largely the result of a catastrophic injury to star guard Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals and was forced to sit out the entire 2025-26 season.
Without their centerpiece, Indiana struggled for consistency, leading to the decision to trade fan favorites like Mathurin to retool for 2026. Pacers President of Basketball Operations, Jevin Pritchard, issued a public apology to fans on social media following the lottery results.
Despite the lottery setback, there is optimism for the upcoming season:
Tyrese Haliburton recently reached a major milestone in his recovery, playing 5-on-5 for the first time since his surgery in June 2025.
Indiana expects to field a formidable starting five of Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, and Ivica Zubac.
While Indiana will watch from the sidelines during the draft, the Washington Wizards secured the No. 1 overall pick, where prospects like BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, and Duke’s Cameron Boozer are expected to dominate the board.
The 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled to take place on June 23 and 24.
