The Los Angeles Lakers are still in need of a long-term frontcourt partner for the Luka Doncic era. It was always a longshot that one would be found before the NBA trade deadline. Even so, it hurts to watch a great candidate switch teams right in front of your eyes to fill another franchise's similar void.
Chris Haynes reported: "The Los Angeles Clippers are trading center Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers, league sources tell me."
The trade details that have followed since had Zubac and Kobe Brown on their way to Indiana in exchange for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks and one second-round pick. It's a pretty good haul for the Clippers to give up their franchise center.
Zubac is having a touch of a down year, by his standards, in 2025-26. Even so, Tyrese Haliburton will now be set up with the type of center on his team for next season that Doncic would have loved to have on the Lakers this year.
Lakers whiff on bringing Ivica Zubac back to their side of Los Angeles
Giving up Zubac was always a mistake for the Lakers. It's one that looks even more disastrous in 2026 than it did when it happened.
The value the Clippers received from Indiana would have been tough to match for the Lakers. There's also the underlying factor of really overpaying for his services considering this would have been a deal with the crosstown rival. It was never truly super realistic, but boy would it have been fun.
Zubac proved in his partnership with James Harden that he would have been extremely capable as a pick-and-roll partner for the likes of Doncic. Haliburton will similarly be able to thrive with his new Pacers center.
The defensive end is where the Lakers could have really enjoyed his presence. Zubac is a solid and sound center to have anchoring a defensive unit. That is something this Los Angeles team needs right now. Doncic has always benefitted from having a good rim protector behind him.
It would have been a dream fit. However, it stays as just that — a fantasy.
The Pacers have set themselves up mightily well for next season. Haliburton, Zubac, and Pascal Siakam is a terrific trio to contend with in the Eastern Conference.
The Lakers, meanwhile, will have to turn to free agency in search of their center of the future. Luckily for them, the appeal of playing with Doncic is something several bigs have reportedly started eyeing already.