Pacers’ Trade Backfires with Wagler

The Indiana Pacers pulled off a bold trade for veteran center Ivica Zubac, hoping to fill the void left by Myles Turner and position themselves for a brighter future after Tyrese Haliburton’s injury. But the cost? They gave up Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, and two future first-round picks — including a top-four protected 2026 pick — to the Clippers. In return, the Clippers used that pick to select phenom Keaton Wagler, who’s already looking like a potential All-Star. The Pacers gambled on immediate wins with Zubac, but may have sacrificed their long-term future for a player who could be the cornerstone of a new franchise. It’s a painful trade — especially if Wagler lives up to the hype and Indy’s 2029 pick ends up being a lottery selection too. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/dbcfb5c6b2112ec0