Pacers may have more trade flexibility than it appears despite lacking 2026 pick

The Pacers won’t make a selection in this month’s NBA Draft, but that doesn’t mean they’re short on assets.

As Tony East of Forbes outlined, Indiana could soon find itself with increased flexibility when it comes to future trades, despite owing its 2026 first-round pick to the Clippers as part of the Ivica Zubac deal.

President of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard hinted as much after the draft lottery.

“We have some flexibility,” Pritchard said. “We have five of our next six years of first-round draft picks.”

The Pacers currently own first-round selections in 2027, 2028, 2030, 2031 and 2032, giving them more long-term ammunition than some contenders who have already pushed most of their chips to the center of the table.

The timing is important.

Once the 2026 NBA Draft concludes later this month, Indiana will gain the ability to trade additional future first-round picks due to the league’s Stepien Rule, which prevents teams from going consecutive future drafts without a first-round selection.

That could create opportunities for a Pacers front office that still appears focused on winning now.

Indiana already showed its willingness to sacrifice draft capital when it acquired Zubac and previously traded for Pascal Siakam. The organization believes its championship window remains open with Tyrese Haliburton and Siakam leading the way.

The downside, of course, is a shrinking pipeline of young talent. The Pacers haven’t made a first-round selection since 2023.

Whether Indiana uses its newfound flexibility to pursue another veteran, add younger talent or simply keep its future assets remains to be seen.

Either way, the Pacers may have more options than their lack of a 2026 draft pick suggests.