The Indiana Pacers are perhaps the unluckiest team in the NBA. In Game 7 of the NBA Finals last, Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles, ruining any chance of winning a title. Indiana. They have also never had the number one pick in the NBA Draft.
In fact, of the three teams that entered the NBA draft lottery with the best odds for the top pick, Indiana was the only team who has never had the top pick. The Pacers traded their 2026 first-round pick, protected 5-9. However, it could only fall as far as sixth.
That meant that the Pacers only lost the pick if the pick fell to either five or six. Of course, the Pacers still had a 52 percent chance to stay in the top four and keep their pick. Yet, they had a disastrous lottery result.
GettyIndiana Pacers center Ivica Zubac dunks the ball in a game against the Knicks. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Indiana Pacers Lose Their 2026 First Round Pick
Not only did the Pacers not win the number one pick, but they lost their pick outright. The pick fell to five, which means the Los Angeles Clippers will get the pick. Trading for Ivica Zubac essentially becomes their 2026 first-round pick.
Indiana hasn’t picked in the top five in the draft since 1988, when they drafted Rik Smits second overall. They are a team that never rises in the lottery. In fact, they only ever seem to fall. Falling three spots was a disaster that really affects how this team will approach the offseason.
Adding someone like A.J. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, or Carlos Boozer would really have helped them try to get back to the NBA Finals next season. Instead, Indiana now has to find another way to replace the loss of Bennedict Mathurin, who was also part of that Zubac trade.
Depending on how this draft shakes out, that trade could end up coming back to haunt Indiana. Including their 2026 first-round pick kept them from possibly landing a superstar in this year’s draft. Now, they have to find a way to improve the team without a superstar rookie.
GettyIndiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton dribbles the ball. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
How Indiana Will Approach the Offseason Without a First-Round Draft Pick
With no pick coming, that really puts an emphasis on free agency for the Pacers. Unfortunately for them, they don’t have much cap space. They only have $7.7 million in space before they hit the first apron of the luxury tax. They will have to use that space to find a scorer off the bench.
The return of a healthy Haliburton will make this team a title contender again. Still, adding a talented rookie would perhaps have made them the favorites to win the Eastern Conference next season. They will have most of the key players back from their 2025 Finals run, though.
Making another trade wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility. Obi Toppin is the easiest contract to move, but he’s such a valuable player to the Pacers. His ability to shoot from outside makes it unlikely he will be moved unless it’s part of a package for a star player.
Indiana Pacers See Cataclysmic Disaster in the Draft Lottery