Pacers well-positioned for a return after reset season

The Pacers aren’t pretending this season is headed anywhere special. The focus shifted to what comes next a while ago.

Indiana sits at 15-43 with a projected finish near the bottom of the standings and a 12 percent chance at the No. 1 pick. The biggest post-deadline development wasn’t about the present, but the future, writes ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

The Pacers acquired Ivica Zubac from the Clippers, a move designed more for next season than this one. Zubac hasn’t played since the trade as he continues to recover from an ankle injury, and there’s little urgency to rush him back.

The trade came with risk. Indiana sent out its 2026 first-round pick, though it’s top-four protected. That protection gives the Pacers a real incentive to lean into the lottery this year. If the pick lands in the top four, it changes everything.

From a draft standpoint, Indiana is in a favorable spot. A high pick could slot cleanly next to a healthy Tyrese Haliburton, who looms as the most impactful “addition” to the roster next season. Pairing elite young talent with Haliburton would immediately raise the ceiling.

The offseason math is tight. Indiana sits just below the luxury tax and will have several extension decisions to weigh, including Haliburton and Pascal Siakam.

This season may be about patience. The next one won’t be.